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Early and Notable Events 



... in the 



History of the North West Territory 
Illinois and Taze\^ell County 

... including the ... 

Names of Those w^ho have Served the County 

in Various Official Capacities. 



By William H. Bates. 



Illlnstrated. Price, 25 cents, in Paper Cover 



ENTERED ACCORDING TO THE ACT OF CONGRESS, ON THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY OF JUNE, 

IN THE YEAR NINETEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN, 

BY WILLIAM H. BATES, 

IN THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS, AT WASHINGTON, D. C. 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 



n 



^ 



Preface 

N RE-WKITING AND CONDENSING THIS HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF 
THE FIRST AND MANY NOTABLE EVENTS IN OUR EARLY HISTORY, 

we deem it but a just meed of praise to refer to the oral aid 
rendered, for nearly half a century, by those of our pioneer 
settlers, who have passed to the " Great Beyond," to-wit: 

James Haines, (Uncle Jimmie), Daniel C. Orr, Mrs. Mary Tharp- 
Bequeaith, daughter of Jonathan Tharp, Judge William Don Maus, 
Benjamin S. Prettyman, Jacob Tharp, William Fletcher Copes, Joshua 
Wagenseller, Daniel Clauser, Benjamin S. Hyers, Peter A. Brower, 
George W. Minier, Mrs. Margaret Wilson-Young (Grandma Young), 
and others. 

We are also indebted to the following publications: Charles Bal- 
lance's "History of Peoria"; Sellers «& Bates' "History of Pekin"; 
Andreas, Lyter & Co's "Atlas Map of Tazewell County"; Charles C. 
Chapman & Co's "History of Tazewell County"; Munsell Publishing 
Co's "Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Tazewell County"; Reu- 
ben Gold Thwaits' "Story of Father Jacques Marquette"; John S. C. 
Abbott's "Adventures of LaSalle"; Ben. Perley Poore's "Reminiscen- 
ces of Sixty Years at the National Metropolis"; "McClure's Magazine, 
1895-96"; "Mitchell's Statistical Atlas"; "History of the Illinois 
River Baptist Association," by Elder Gilbert S. Bailey. We desire to 
extend special thanks to Irwin F. Mather, A. M., author of "The 
Making of Illinois," for aids in illustrations. 

We also wish to express thanks to our Tazewell County officers 
for aid and courtesies extended us in connection with the compilation 
of this Historical Souvenir. 

And finally, the undersigned respectfully dedicates this volume to 
the citizens of Tazewell county, with the humble hope that they may 
appreciate its contents in the same degree he has enjoyed in its com- 
pilation. Respectfully and Fraternally, 

Pekin, Illinois, 1916. William Henry Bates. 

©CI.A431840 

JUL 12 1916 

^ ^^^^ 




SOUVENIR OF EARLY AND NOTABLE EV^ENTS 

In the History of the Northw^est Territory, Illinois and Taze-well County 

Including the Names oi Those ^^ho have Served the County 

in Various Official Capacities. 

BY WM. H. BATES 

THE MOST RELIABLE BIOGRAPHERS, WHO HAVE 

written volumes on the discoveries in this portion 
of the Northwest Territory, we learn that the 
French Governor, Frontenac, at Quebec, Can., 
selected Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Mar- 
quette, who were aided by five French boatmen, 
to search for, and explore, a much talked of and 
mighty river (Mississippi) supposed to empty 
its waters into the Gulf of California, or Gulf 
of Mexico. The pious Father Marquette was highly elated, when told 
that the Governor of New France had chosen him to aid Joliet and to 
look after the spiritual needs of the party. On May 17th, 1673, this 
little band of hardy Frenchmen, in two birch bark canoes, started from 
St. Ignatius on their hazardous mission. Their course was by way of 
Green Bay, Fox River, Lake Winnebago, the "Carrying Places," and 
Wisconsin River to the Mississippi; then down the "Father of Waters" 
as far south as the mouth of the Arkansas River. 

On their return northward, they followed the advice of friendly 
Indians, who told them of a river, called the Illini, which was a much 
shorter route to the great lakes of the north. Therefore, on reaching 
its mouth they turned the prows of their canoes into its placid waters, 
which they found abounding in choice fish, its banks adorned with 
beautiful wild flowers in every hue of the rainbow, and its bluffs covered 
with stately trees, bushes and vines bearing edible nuts and berries. 
They doubtless, landed on what today is Tazewell county soil, to prepare 
their frugal evening meal of corn, fish and venison, and to erect a rude 
shelter of logs and brush for the night. Thus we learn that they were 
the first white men to view and occupy this part of Illinois. 

There is also another claim for first honors in the navigation, etc., 
of the Illinois River, to-wit: The International Cyclopedia, vol. 8 page 
675, states that Robert Cavalier LaSalle in 1671, made a trip "down 
the Illinois River to, or nearly to, the Mississippi, and made a map of 
its course and tributary streams.'^ The reader is left to his own choice. 
Then, from the writings of Father Hennepin, a Franciscan monk, 
we learn that in January, 16S0, LaSalle, Tonti, an Italian military aid, 
and followers enough to man eight canoes, passed down a lake 
"seven leagues long and one broad, called Pimiteoui," (Lake Peoria). 
LaSalle landed near the foot of the lake, and held a parley with the 
chiefs of a large Indian village, doubtless near the present site of 
Averyville. Fearing the treachery of the Indians, the white men con- 
tinued their journey down the Illinois to a point where "the waters of 
the river washed the base of a high bluff", (above Wesley City), landed 
and erected a palisade fort on its summit and named it Creve Cceur, 
{broken heart in French). La Salle then returned to Canada for men 
and supplies, leaving Tonti in command. Soon, nearly all of the men 
left to guard the fort, deserted, and organized as the "Banditti of the 
Woods and Lakes." They took a course northward and eastward, rob- 
bing and destroying at will. LaSalle and aids, pursued, and taking the 
bandits in detail, killed or captured them. The unfriendly Indians be- 



4 Early a n 5 Notable Events 

coming hostile, Tonti and his little garrison fled to Green Bay, Wiscon- 
sin. On La Salle's return, in the Spring of 1681, he found the fort de- 
serted and destroyed. He then made a rapid trip to Green Bay and 
brought Tonti and followers back. A small sloop, he construction of 
which had been begun before La Salle's departurt for Canada, and 
which had not been damaged by the hostile savages, was then com- 
pleted. It was of forty tons measurement, viade of Tazewell County 
oak, and the first sailing vessel built in Illinois. 

Before LaSalle started on his trip from Fort Creve Coeur to Fort 
Frontenac, he dispatched the pious Father Hennepin, aided by two 
French boatmen, with orders to descend the Illinois to the Mississippi, 
thence up the latter river to its source. They had reached the mouth 
of the Wisconsin river, where they were taken into captivity by a war 
party of Issati Indians, on their way south to make war upon a tribe 
near the mouth of the Illinois. Hennepin, after a prolonged parley, 
convinced them that their mission would be a failure, as the Indians to 
be attacked had joined other powerful tribes, and were ready to meet 
and defeat them. After ascending the Mississippi for three, or perhaps 
four hundred miles, they reached the Issati villages, near the Falls of 
St. Anthony. Hennepin, and the two boatmen, were adopted by three 
of the leading chiefs, to take the place of sons killed in battle. The 
three Frenchmen remained in captivity until they were joined by five 
of their countrymen. M. du Luth, with a guard of French soldiers, who 
were exploring, or hunting, in northern Wisconsin, learning of the cap- 
tivity of their three countrymen, made a trip to the villages of the Issati 
Indians. Soon after their arrival, a great feast was held, presents were 
exchanged, and through a promise that an expedition would i-eturn 
with goods to trade for furs, and presents for the chiefs, all of the 
Frenchmen were allowed to depart. They returned via the St. Francis, 
Mississippi, Wisconsin and Fox rivers, to Green Bay, thence to Mack- 
inaw. Although in captivity, Hennepin and his two boatmen, were the 
first white men to navigate the upper waters of the Mississippi. 

From various authorities, we learn that LaSalle and followers then 
returned northward. On arriving at Michilimackinac (Mackinaw), about 
the middle of June, as stated by Father Membre, there was great rejoic- 
ing between LaSalle, Father Hennepin and those who had escaped from 
captivity at the headwaters of the Mississippi. Then followed the return 
to Ft. Frontenac, to prepare for the exploration of the lower Mississippi. 
No misfortune was great enough to quench the ardor and determin- 
ation of LaSalle, to reach the outlet of the great "Father of Waters," 
so with a force large enough to man 10 canoes, in the winter of 1681-82, 
he started on that historic mission. On January 4th, 1682, after skirt- 
ing the shores of the lakes, they landed at the mouth of the Chicago 
river. The Illinois rivers being covered with ice, they constructed 
sleds, on which they placed their birch-bark canoes, then dividing into 
teams, they hauled the canoes over the Chicago, portages, DesPlaines, 
and Illinois rivers, until they reached the site of Ft. Creve Coeur, where 
they halted for a weeks rest. The Illinois, being navigable from this 
point, they bade adieu to Creve Coeur, and on the 6th of February, 
1682, reached its mouth, where they were delayed until the 13th. Their 
next stop was at an Indian village opposite the mouth of the Missouri. 
From this point, until the explorers reached their goal, they were 
received and feasted, after presentation of the calumet (pipe) of peace, 
by the various Indian tribes living on the banks of the Mississippi, with 
one exception — the fierce Quinnipissi tribe, below Natches. The fleet 
of canoes, out of reach of Indian arrows, escaped by rapid rowing, and 
passed southward to complete their mission. 

On reaching a point where the Mississippi terminates into branches, 
LaSalle divided his force: sending Mr. Dautray, with one party, down 
the east branch; Tonti and Membre', with another, down the central 



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6 Early and Notable Events 

branch; while himself, and party, took the western branch. On reach- 
ing the Gulf of Mexico the forces reunited, and on their return north- 
ward ascended the western branch. On the 9th of April, 1682, they 
assembled on an elevation, raised a massive column, at the foot of 
which they buried a leaden plate, bearing an inscription in Latin, to- wit: 
"Louis the Great Reigns. Robert Cavalier, with Lord Tonti, Ambassador; Zenobia Membre', 
Ecclesiastic; and twenty Frenchmen, first navigated this river from the country of the Illinois, 
and passed through this mouth on the ninth of April, sixteen hundred and eighty-two." 

The names of the Frenchmen are engraved on the plate. Following 
which, LaSalle made a speech, claiming all tributary streams and lands 
in the name of Louis the Great, King of France. 

The return to Fort Frontenac was without mishap, with exception 
of a spirited fight with the fierce Quinnipissi Indians, where the fire- 
arms of the white man, won a signal victory. Thus ended the search 
for and discovery of the outlet to the "Father of Waters," which gave 
renown to LaSalle, and a vast territory to France. 

The first discovery of bituminous coal, in the west, was made by 
Father Hennepin, in 1679, near Ottawa, Illinois. 

In 1700, Kaskaskia, the first Capital under French dominion, after- 
wards the Capital of the Territory of Illinois, was one of the first points 
of the Great Northwest Country where the white man made permanent 
settlement. The association with the Indian had a degenerating influ- 
ence upon many of the weaker-minded early white settlers, and from 
this period until the cession to England of Canada and other French 
possessions east of the Mississippi in 1763, but little advancement was 
made. 

In 1723, Philip F. Renault, under a special grant, accompanied by 
a colony of artisans, mechanics and laborers, and five hundred slaves, 
made settlement in the American Bottoms, near Kaskaskia. These 
were probably the first slaves brought into the Illinois country. 

The Indians and semi-civilized white inhabitants, (nearly all French) 
remained in possession of Illinois, until 1778, when Col. George Rogers 
Clark, at the head of a military force from Virginia, took possession of 
Kaskaskia. Then in February, 1779, Colonel Clark, with less than 150 
chosen frontiersmen, called "Long Knives," made one of the most 
heroic marches, from Kaskaskia, on the Mississippi, to Vincennes, on 
the Wabash river, which was a fortified British stronghold, and cap- 
tured the fort. Gen. Hamilton, his officers and army of "red coats," as 
the British soldiers were named by our Revolutionary patriots. This 
unprecedented achievement, caused the various Indian tribes who were 
assembling to aid the British, to sue for peace. Clark's master-stroke, 
gave the Americans control of the territory north of the Ohio and east 
the Mississippi rivers, which became a county of Virginia. This acqui- 
sition, known as the Northwest Territory, was ceded to the United 
States, by Virginia, and in time became the states of Ohio, Indiana, 
Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin — an inland empire in resources. 

In August, 1778, Father Hyppolite Maillet, who hated all English- 
men traditionally, and loved Americans instinctively, assembled 300 
French settlers and friendly Indians at the "Trading House", (now 
Wesley City), and marched his little army on foot to the southern end 
of Lake Michigan, and struck a successful blow for American liberty, by 
capturing Fort St. Joseph, which was defended by English troops with 
cannon. 

The first American school, in the Illinois Territory, was taught by 
Mr. John Seeley. It was held in a log cabin, in Monroe county, in 1783. 

The first Ordinance for the government of the Western Territory of 
the United States, was passed on April 23, 171-14. Its educational and 
freedom-guaranteeing clauses were frought with enduring benefits to 
coming generations of freedom-loving citizens of the LTnited States. 



Early and Notable Events 7 

The Territory of Illinois was organized February 3rd, 1809, but the 
increasing hostilities of the Indians retarded occupation, and in August, 
1S12, culminated in the massacre of the garrison at Fort Dearborn (Chi- 
cago), as well as many pioneer settlers in that section of the territory. 
The territorial militia was then increased, took possession of the most 
available points, and exacted obedience to more lawful and civilizing 
influences. Fort Clark, (the site of which is now occupied by the Peoria 
Electric Light plant), was one of the forts along the border. 

The territory comprising the county of Tazewell formed part of the 
counties at the dates named in the several subdivisions of the State 
prior to the organization of the county, as follows: 

1809 — Illinois Territory was organized, and subdivided into the 
counties of Randolph and St. Clair. Tazewell was included in the latter. 

1812 — Tazewell formed a part of Madison county. 

1814 — Tazewell was included in Madison and Edwards. 

1816— Tazewell was a part of Madison and Crawford counties. 

1817 — Tazewell was a part of the counties of Bond and Crawford. 

1819 — Tazewell was included in Clark and Bond counties. 

1821— Tazewell formed part of Fayette and Sangamon counties. 

In 1825, the Legislature created Peoria county, and all the territory 
north of town twenty and west of the third principal meridian, which 
included Tazewell, became a part of Peoria for all county purposes. 

When the population of Tazewell was thought to be sufficiently 
large to regularly organize, an election was held in April, 1827, and 
Benjamin Briggs, George Hittle and James Lotta were chosen County 
Commissioners. They at once proceeded to hold a meeting and con- 
summate the organization. This they did at the house of William 
Orendorff, April 10, 1827. 

The following named gentlemen served as County Commissioners, for the years shown 
opposite their names, from 1827 to 1850: 

George Hittle 1827-29 James Harvey 1832-34 Robert Bradshaw 1839-42 

Benjamin Briggs 1827-30 William Brown 1832-34 Durrett Higgins 1840-43 

James Lotta 1827 Thomas F. Railsback 1833-38 William S. Rankin 1841-47 

Ephraim Stout 1828 Benjamin Mitchell 1834 Able Kingman 1842-48 

Nathan Dillon 1829-32 L. P. Fletcher 1834-36 Elias Ogden 1843-49 

Timothy B. Hoblit 1830 Richard N. Cullom 1835 James Broyhill 1846-50 

Isaac Baker 1830 James Fisher 1836-39 Joshua Stewart 1847-50 

Benjamin Briggs 1831 Alden Hull 1836-38 Lawson Holland 1847-50 

William Holland 1831 Abraham Bowman 1838-41 

George Havenhill 1832 Joshua WoUey 1838-40 

1827— Tazewell organized January 31 — boundary defective. 

1829 — Tazewell boundaries defined, and error of law of 1827 cor- 
rected as then given. County originally created from territory then 
comprising part of the counties of Sangamon and Fayette. 

The county at this time was very large; even in 1829, when a new 
boundary was formed, it contained 79 townships. It has been divided 
for the formation of other counties so often that it has finally been re- 
duced to 19 townships. (See sketches of the 19 townships elsewhere 
in this volume.) 

1830 — McLean county was formed by taking off the three ranges 
east of the meridian and range one west of the meridian. 

1839 — Logan county was created, taking off three townships on the 
south. 

1841 — The counties of Mason and Woodford were organized, and 
Tazewell reduced to its present boundaries. 

The county was named in honor of Hon. John Tazewell, U. S. Sen- 
ator from the State of Virginia. There is a county in that State which 
also bears the same name, these being the only two in the United States. 

Owing to limited space we can only chronicle such striking features 
of early pioneer history as were kept fresh in the minds of the early 
settlers, and by records which have been preserved by their child- 
ren; therefore we will give our readers brief mention of a few first 
and notable events in the early history of Tazewell County: 



8 Early and Notable Events 

Nathan Dillon built the first log cabin on Dillon creek, Dillon town- 
ship, in 1823, and it was (claimed) the first one by a pioneer settler. 

There are other claimants for the honor of first permanent settle- 
ment of Tazewell county, to-wit: Wm. Blanchard, Jr., accompanied by 
Charles and Theodore Sargeant and David Barnes, all revolutionary 
veterans of 1812, came west in 1819, settling temporarily at Fort Clark 
(Peoria). Finding a fine piece in the bottom land opposite, they plant- 
ed a patch of corn and potatoes. Then in 1822, they found, near their 
first patch, an old French field of ten acres, which had been abandoned, 
of which they took possession and erected a rude cabin, and planted 
corn and potatoes. This is claimed to be the first dwelling built between 
Fort Clark and Chicago, (probably excepting the log cabins built in Ft, 
Creve Coeur in 1G80, and the "Trading House," built at Wesley City 
about 1775.) There is still another claimant— Wm. Holland, who set- 
tled in Washington township, as early as 1821. 

The first death of a white man was that of a Mr. Killum, in Decem- 
ber, 1823. He died of exposure after crossing the Mackinaw river, 
while on a trip between (what is today) Logan county and Peoria. 

The first white child born in Tazewell county, was Hannah, daughter 
of Nathan Dillon. The date of this historic event was August 2, 1824. 

Stephen Woodrow was the first white male child born in the county. 

Jonathan Tharp was the first settler in "Town Site." He built his 
crude log cabin home on the high ground, between what is now the 
Franklin School and Pekin Gas Works, near the foot of Broadway. 

On the arrival of the first white settlers at "Town Site," there was 
quite a large Indian village on the ridge where the P. & P. U. R. R. 
trains pass by the W. A. Boley & Co., ice houses. The Pottawatomies 
predominated. 

Among the friendly Indians residing here, during the Black Hawk 
War, in 1832, was the noted Pottawatomie, Chief Shabbona, and his 
family, who erected wigwams at the foot of Broudway, near the present 
gas works. He was a true friend of the "pale face," because of which 
and the fact that he refused to join his forces with Black Hawk's, in a 
war of extermination against the "pale face," his life was threatened. 
Whilst Shabbona escaped. Black Hawk's savages succeeded in murder- 
ing his son and a nephew. Shabbona, although an Indian by birth, 
had early espoused the humane and civilizing influences of the first 
"pale face" neighbors, and to his memory and honor may be ascribed 
the saving of scores of lives of those who had gone to the great Illini 
country, to build new homes and a western empire. 

Shabbona was buried near Morris, Illinois, and a monument was 
erected to his memory by the grateful Americans.^ 

Another prominent village of wigwams, was located near Mackinaw, 
on the river of that name. It was composed of a band of Kickapoos, 
with Chief Machina as their leader. 

In February, 1825, Ezekiel Turner was killed by lightning, this be- 
ing the second death. Not a foot of sawed lumber being in reach, the 
rites of sepulture were performed in true pioneer style. William Wood- 
row felled a straight walnut tree, cut a log the proper length, split it, 
and hollowed one half and shaped it like a coffin. From the other half 
of the log a lid was hewn, then fastened down with wooden pins. In 
this rude burial case the body was consigned to Mother Earth. 

The Methodists are said to have erected the first brick church- 
about 1830. This was in Pekin, and Rev. Jos. Mitchell was the first re- 
gular pastor. This building, which had been converted into a foundry, 
was burned during the great fire in 1860. The Methodists had subse- 
quently built a new frame church on the corner of Capitol and Margaret 
streets. The Palace Garage occupies the site of the old brick church. 

From 1831, to 1836, while Pekin was the county seat, Joshua C. 
Morgan held the offices of Circuit Clerk, County Clerk, Recorder, Mas- 



^ 







LOUIS JOLIET 

FUR TRADER AND EXPLORER. 

Born at Quebec, Sept. 21, 1645. Died, May, 1700. 



FATHER JACQUES MARQUETTE 

MISSIONARY AND EXPLORER. 

Born at Laon, France, 1637. Died May 18, 1675. 
Drawn by Wm, Peco, from a defaced oil painting 




ROBERT CAVALIER de LaSALLE 

RENOWNED FRENCH EXPLORER. 

Born at Rouen, France, 1643. Assassinated, and 
died in Texas, March 19, 1687. 



CHIEF SHABBONA 

AN INDIAN, BUT "tHE WHITE MAN'S FRIEND." 

Born in 1775. Died in 1859. Buried at Morris, 

Illinois, where a monument has been erected to 

commemorate his deeds of self-sacrifice in 

saving the lives of many white settlers 

from massacre by Black Hawk. 



10 Early and Notable Events 

ter-in-Chancery and Postmaster. He transacted the business of his 
various offices and lived with wife, four children, his brother and a 
young lady, in a house of two rooms. According to our informant, "T7^e 
entire court and bar, and many others, often spent the evenings there.'''' 
Such was pioneer hospitality. 

The first brick building erected in Tazewell county, for business pur- 
poses, was by David Mark, at the corner of Court and Second Streets, 
200 Court, Pekin. The rear of this building, facing Second street, housed 
the first bank. 

Gideon H. Hawley is credited with starting the first hotel- 

Mathias Mount, one of the early settlers, served in the Black Hawk 
war as Second Lieut. Co. C, 1st Illinois regiment. Lieut. Mount will 
be remembered by our elder readers as an influential member of the 
Board of Supervisors from Dillon township, for many years. 

The first grist-mill was erected by Wm. Eads, and Wm. Davis. This 
was in Elm Grove township, in 1825. It took four horses to propel it, 
and its capacity was three bushels per hour— the customer furnishing 
his own horses or oxen for the motive force. The pioneer mills were 
called "band mills." 

The first cotton gin was built by Wm. Eads, and was run in connec- 
tion with his grist-mill. 

About this time Elisha Perkins erected another "band mill" near 
Circle ville. This mill was stockaded and used as a fort during the 
Black Hawk War in 1832. 

The first mill propelled by water was erected on Farm Creek, in 
1827, by Mr. Leak. It had one run of stone, and the bolting was done 
by hand. 

The first woolen factory was erected by Theodorus Fisher, on sec- 
tion 34, Elm Grove township, in 1832. An inclined wheel, on which 
oxen continuously walked, was the motive power. This mill received 
patronage from all surrounding counties, when the pioneer needed his 
wool carded and wove. 

The first school house was built on section 27, Elm Grove township, 
in 1827. The first teacher was Samuel Bentley. 

Joseph, son of Jonathan Tharp, was the first male white child born 
in "Town Site," his natal day being March 10th, 1827. 

Peter Cartwright, the celebrated pioneer preacher, held the first 
camp-meeting in Tazewell county, in 1827, in a grove on Dillon Creek, 
Elm Grove township, known then as Drum's Spring. 

Thomas Dillon presided over the first postoffice. It was located in 
Dillon township, in 1825. It was of the genuine pioneer pattern, a few 
roughly constructed letter and paper receptacles. How different from 
the elegant offices of the present day. 

The first store in the county was opened by Absalom Dillon, at the 
town of the same name, in 1826. 

Daniel Dillon and Martha Alexander were the first couple married 
in the county. The license had to be procured in Peoria, but they were 
united "in the bonds of holy wedlock" in Elm Grove township. 

From the history of Tazewell county issued in 1879, we quote: 
"The first marriage that occurred after the county was organized, and the first marriage li- 
cense issued, were under the following romantic circumstances: Mordecai Mobley, the first Coun- 
ty Clerk, happened at old Father Stout's to stay all night. Mr. Stout lived about five miles from 
Mackinaw. Mr. Mobley says he noticed a boy and girl around but thought they were brother and 
sister. Soon the "old gentleman' called him aside and told him that 'that ar boy had been comin' 
to see his darter for a long time, and they want to get married. Now,' continued Mr. Stout, 'we 
are livin' in a new country and we don't know what's to be done, and we thinks as how you can 
tell us. They have to get some kind of a permit, don't they?' Mr. Mobley told him they did, and 
that he could not only tell him how to get married, but that he was the man to issue the permit. 
This pleased Mr. Stout, and no doubt the young couple were delighted to think that the great ob- 
stacles that prevented them from being one— for they were willing and so were the old folks— were 
about to be removed. Stout wanted the license immediately. Accordingly, Mr. Mobley told them 
if they would get him pen and ink and some paper he would write the license. Not a sheet of 
blank paper could be found in the cabin. At last, Mr. Mobley asked them if they had a book. Mr. 
Stout thought they had, as they used to have one. Finally an old book was found which happened. 



Early and Notable Even f'sj 11 

to have one whole unmarked fly-leaf. Being thus provided with paper, they found they had 
no pen. A pen was soon made, however. Mr. Mobley told them to catch the biggest chicken 
they had. This was done and a large feather pulled out of its wing and a pen made of it. Again 
they found themselves in a dilemma, out of which the ingenuity of Mr. Mobley soon brought 
them. After being provided with paper and pen they were minus ink. He, however, took some 
water and gunpowder and made some writing-fluid that answered the purpose. With this ink 
and pen, and upon the fly-leat of an old book, the first marriage license issued in Tazewell county 
was written. The couple for whom such seemingly insurmountable obstacles were overcome were 
John Stout and Fanny Stout. They were married on the 25th of June, 1827, by Rev. Wm. Brown." 

Another early marriage was that of Rev. Peter Cartwright, to Tem- 
perance Kindle, under date of October 14, 1827. This was the sixth 
after the organization of the county. 

In the summer of 1827, one Mr. Mobley, known as the land auction- 
eer, received the first keel-boat load of goods for "Town Site," most of 
which was transferred, by team, to Mackinaw, then the county seat. 

In the fall of 1828, the first steamboat that is reported to have as- 
cended the Illinois river, created wild consternation. The Indians, liv- 
ing in villages along its banks, fled to the hills or dense timber. At 
Kingston, where Jesse Eggman had settled and established a ferry, one 
Hugh Barr, who had never seen a steamboat, hearing the hideous noise 
made by the escaping steam, and seeing the open fires under the boil- 
ers, which looked like the flashing eyes of some monster, at the weird 
hour of midnight, turned out with dog and gun and chased the "mon- 
ster" until it passed up the river. The small band of settlers who lived 
along our river front from the present site of the old Tazewell House 
to the site of the Gas Works, were awakened from their peaceful slum- 
ber by the grewsome exhaust from the old-fashioned "high-pressure" 
steam engines, gathered in knots, and awaited the approach of the 
"monster of the deep." It is stated that old Father Tharp gathered his 
family together for prayers, doubtless thinking that Gabriel was blow- 
ing the "final call:" and that good Aunt Ruth Stark prayed the All 
Wise One to have Gabriel call at Fort Clark, (now Peoria) as they were 
"wickeder up there." 

In 1828, Absalom Dillon opened the first store in "Town Site" using 
Jacob Tharp's smoke house for a store room. 

In 1829, William Clark, made and operated the first ferry at "Town 
Site." It was constructed of logs and puncheons, and propelled with 
long poles during the low water, and long sweeps (oars) during the high 
stages of water in the river. It crossed the Illinois from about the foot 
of Harriett street. William Haines succeeded Clark, and the ferry was 
moved to the foot of Court Street. 

The first negro to reach "Town Site", or Tazewell county, was 
known as "Black Nance," who came as a slave, leased to Major Crom- 
well, to satisfy a debt. This occurred about 1829. She was a good soul, 
ever willing to help on all festal occasions. All her children were "born 
in freedom," at Pekin. As the years rolled by, she gained distinction 
by being the first black slave freed by the great emancipator, Abra- 
ham Lincoln. This case came before the courts and was won by Lin- 
coln when he was known as "Honest Old Abe." 

The first jail built in Tazewell county, was constructed of hewn logs; 
it was 16 ft square and cost the munificent sum (then-1829) of $325.75. 
It was located at Mackinaw, the county seat. Robert McClure 
and Mathew Robb were the builders, and it was regarded the strongest 
"bastile" in this section of the Great West. Nevertheless, one Cow- 
hart, the first horse-thief (who had escaped hanging or being shot), and 
the very first prisoner confined therein, made his escape the first night, 
regardless of the fact that he had been chained to his bedstead. 

Hon. Mathew Robb, J. P. was one of the celebrities of this neigh- 
borhood, as the following incident will confirm: 

A couple by the name of John Pore and Miss Brown concluded to live together "for better or 
for worse," and accordingly called upon 'Squire Robb to perform the marriage rites. The former 
crossed Sugar Creek for the purpose of taking Robb over; but as the weather had been rainy, the 
creek was high and inconvenient to cross. Pore crossed it on a log, while the 'Squire sat on horse- 



12 Early and Notable Events 

back on his side of the stream. Mr. Pore brought his bride down to the creek; as it was now about 
eight o'clock at night, torches were lit. It was raining at the time, but they paid no attention to 
that. 'Squire Robb rode a little distance into the water in order to distinguish the bridegroom and 
bride on the opposite bank and the romantic and interesting ceremony was performed. 

In 1829, "To-wn Site" -was surveyed by William Hodge, County Sur- 
veyor, the blocks, streets and lots being measured by a combined rope- 
and-leather line. The -wife of Major Cromwell was honored by being 
called on to name the new town. She selected "Pekin" as an appro- 
priate name for what all expected to become one of the largest cities in 
the "Great Northwest Country." Later in the same year William 
Haines, Thos. Snell, Nathan Cromwell, Wm. Brown, and David Bailey, 
became the sole owners of the "original Town of Pekin," and when the 
final surveys were made, they found the lots had cost them twenty-eight 
cents each. 

Thomas Snell erected the first school house in Pekin in 1831, and 
his son, John S., became the first teacher; then later, the first 4th of 
July orator. It stood near the southwest corner of Second and Eliza- 
beth streets. On the breaking out of the Black Hawk war, in the year 
1832, it was inclosed by a stockade of split logs and the enclosure nam- 
ed "Fort Doolittle," as tribute to the pioneer Doolittles, some of whose 
descendants yet reside in Pekin. One oversight, in the hurried construc- 
tion of this fort, was the omission to provide for a supply of water, 
either by wells or a covered way to the river. 

During 1831, Thomas Snell erected the first warehouse at Pekin. 

At the battle of "Sycamore Races," a company of volunteers from 
this vicinity, lost 11 killed, among them were Major Perkins and Capt. 
Adams. The survivors retreated to Dixon, on the Rock River, except- 
ing the few who sought home as fast as their horses could carry them. 

One of the early Pekin settlers, Mr. Joshua Wagenseller, used to re- 
late an amusing story about the Indians, who camped on Indian creek, 
as follows: 

An Indian known as Chief Walker by the early settlers, often came to Pekin. On one of his 
visits he offered a bushel of silver dollars to any young white man who would marry his daughter. 
A party of young men from Pekin made the chief a visit with a view to the possession of a bushel 
of silver, so much wealth being a great inducement. On their arrival the proud old chief led them 
to the wigwam where the daughter sat silently awaiting her fate. The young men gazed on the 
maiden in utter silence and dismay— she was so fearfully homely. The situation grew embarass- 
ing, the young men looked at one another, and then silently sneaked out one at a time, leaving 
the old chief and his daughter alone to meditate over "lack of appreciation" on the part of the 
"pale face" brethren. All were unwilling to talk of the visit, and singly expressed a great desire 
for the "other fellow" to take the girl and the bushel of money. 

In the spring of 1831, the county seat was moved from Mackinaw to 
Pekin and Judge Sam'l D. Lockwood, of the State Supreme Court, pre- 
sided, and the court was held in the Snell school-house. 

The deep snow of 1830-31, was not only a record breaker, but es- 
tablished a record: Snow began falling December 29th, 1830, and con- 
tinued for three days and nights, leaving the earth covered with a white 
mantle about four feet thick, with some drifts at least twenty feet deep. 
Many cattle and hogs, also all kinds of wild game, met death by freez- 
ing. The early settlers suffered many privations through hunger and 
cold. Between December 29, 1830, and February 13, 1831, snow fell 
nineteen times. The sun was seldom seen and a general gloom pervaded 
the settlements. Corn that had been left on the stalk in the field 
had to be gathered by digging in the snow for it. Many of the brave 
settlers had to travel on snow-shoes to the more favored places, to se- 
cure food and necessaries to save their families from starving. They 
stood on the crust of the frozen snow, and for fuel, cut off trees so high 
that after the snow had melted away some time in April, 1831, the 
stumps left above ground were tall enough for fence rails. 

There was frost during every month of 1831, consequently poor 
crops followed the efforts of the pioneer husbandman. 

The earliest organized Baptist Church, in Tazewell county, occur- 
red at the home of Mr. Lucas, near Pleasant Grove, in December, 1833. 




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GEN. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK 

"WASHINGTON OF THE WEST." 

Born near Monticello, Va., Nov. 19, 1752. Died at 
Louisville, Ky., Feb. 18, 1818. 



GEN. ARTHUR St. CLAIR 

FIRST GOVERNOR OF THE NORTH WEST TERRITORY 
APPOINTED BY GEORGE WASHINGTON. 

Born at Tiiurso, Scotland, 1734. Died at Greens- 
burg, Penn., Aug. 31, 1818. 




NINIAN EDWARDS 

FIRST GOVERNOR OF THE TERRITORY OF ILLINOIS. 
APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT MADISON. 

Born in Maryland, March 17, 1775. Died at Bell- 
ville. 111., July 26, 1833. 



SHADRACH BOND 

FIRST GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

Born in Maryland in 1773. Died at Kaskaskia, 
Illinois, April 13, 1832. 



14 \E a r I y and Notable Events 

The building of the First Baptist Church, corner of Elizabeth and South 
Fifth streets, Pekin, was begun about 1851-52, but not completed until 
1855. Elder Gilbert S. Bailey, on one of his visits to Springfield, Illi- 
nois, met his old neighbor, Abraham Lincoln, who, on learning that 
Bailey was soliciting funds to complete the Pekin church, cheerfully 
subscribed $10.00. This is the oldest brick church building in Tazewell 
county still occupied by a goodly number of God-loving christians. 

The first successful Free-school, in the State of Illinois, was estab- 
lished in Chicago, in 1834. 

During the year 1834, work was begun on the Illinois and Michigan 
Canal. After its completion in 1848, the citizens of Tazewell county 
had better markets for their products by way of Pekin, Chicago and the 
great lakes, and received their purchases of merchandise more prompt- 
ly and cheaper. 

In 1834, the Asiatic cholera made its first appearance. Those living 
in the river towns, the main thoroughfare of travel, became the princi- 
pal sufferers. Among the number who died in Pekin were Thos. Snell, 
Dr. and Mrs. Perry, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Coldron, Mrs. J. C. Morgan, Wm. 
Haines, and others. 

Sam'l Flesher, was Captain of one of the first militia companies in 
Tazewell county. It was organized at Mackinaw, about 1834-35. 

In 1836, Jacob Tharp erected one of the first two-story brick build- 
ings in Pekin. It was located on Tharp Place between Sixth and Seventh 
streets, and was at first occupied as a residence for several years. Then 
it became the "Pekin Academy," for young ladies and gentlemen. In 
1852, Elder Gilbert S. Bailey, assisted by his wife, took charge, and for 
several years this school, (by some named the "Female Seminary,") 
was acknowledged as one of the leading educational institutions. G. S. 
Bailey was transferred to Chicago, and became one of the prominent 
workers in the inauguration of the Chicago University. Soon after Mr. 
Bailey's departure, it again became a residence. It was best known as 
the Ansel Haines homestead. 

"What a sudden change!" is an expression often heard— but later 
years have not produced one equal to that of January, 1836: Snow had 
fallen to the depth of four inches, which was followed by a drizzling 
rain, leaving the earth covered with "slush". A cold wave came from 
the northwest, and so sudden was the change that cattle, hogs, chick- 
ens, etc., froze fast where they were standing and had to be cut loose. 
Men and women, out in the fields and gardens, and short distances from 
their homes, nearly froze to death before they could seek covered pro- 
tection, owing to the bitter cold. 

A long talked of event occurred in Pekin, in 1837. It was an enter- 
tainment given by the noted Jeffersons — father, mother and son Joseph, 
in the "Yellow" school-house, situated on the corner of Second and 
Susannah streets. The performance was frequently disturbed by a lit- 
ter of pigs, which were in the habit of taking shelter under the building. 
Mrs. Jefferson, who was a talented singer, was so disturbed by their 
noise while singing, "Home, Sweet Home," that she broke down and 
went off the stage weeping. 

The first hotel of any prominence, was the "Delavan House," built 
by the Delavan Colony, at Delavan, in this county, about 1836-1837. 
All of the material used in its erection, excepting sills and framing tim- 
bers, came from the eastern states. In after years it was named the 
"Phillips House." As the latter it was destroyed by fire on August 28, 
1879. In 1840, Hon. Ira B. Hall, lately deceased, became its popular 
landlord. Like all the leading hostelries, on the stage coach line be- 
tween Peoria and Springfield, this house furnished entertainment for 
Abraham Lincoln and other noted Americans. 

In 1840, the Town of Pekin contracted with Mr. John Sleeth to build 
an up-to-date ferryboat. It was first in its line at that date. 



Early and Notable Events 15 

Between 1840 and 1850, a two-story brick building, with a square 
cupola at the front apex of the roof, was erected on Margaret street, 
near Capitol. The grandfathers and grandmothers of to-day, who 
'^^ graduated'" in the three great R's, within its walls, will remember it as 
the "Old Brick School-house." For many years, while the lower room 
was occupied as a "Pay School," the Masons and Odd Fellows held 
their meetings in the upper room. After the adoption of the state free 
school system, the entire building was occupied by the free schools of 
Pekin, then the county-seat. 

The two most noted "great floods" in the Illinois river, since white 
men have kept record, was in 1844 and 1849, during one of which the 
water rose to such a height that the lower floor of the old Illinois River 
Packet Go's warehouse basement was covered with six inches of water. 
Such a flood to-day would submerge the railroad tracks along the river 
front and the water would flow over the floor of the wagon bridge and 
endanger the Sugar Works, Distilleries and Card Board Factory. 

The year 1848 witnessed the establishment of two so-called "first- 
class" hotels at Pekin. The "Eagle," which stood where the remains 
of the old Tazewell — afterward Bemis House, was kept by Mr. Seth 
Kinman, who afterwards acquired considerable celebrity as a hunter 
and a trapper in the far West, and by presenting buck-horn and bear- 
claw chairs, of his own make, to Presidents Abraham Lincoln and An- 
drew Johnson. 

The other, afterwards the Mansion House, but then known as the 
"Taylor House," was pi'esided over by Lieut. William A. Tinney, who 
later distinguished himself by being the first white man in Pekin to lead 
a negro to the polls to vote. 

According to traditional authority, the manner of welcoming guests 
at these hotels was very peculiar, as the following will illustrate : 

A traveler came off a steamboat one day, and went to the Eagle Hotel. There had been a 
little western "scrimmage" at the "Eagle" the night before, and though things had not been put 
in order, the proprietor, Seth Kinman, was sitting in front of the door, playing his favorite tune, 
the "Arkansaw Traveler", with the greatest self-satisfaction. The stranger, stopping, said to Seth: 
"Are you the proprietor here?" Seth, without resting his bow, replied^ Wall, I reckon 1 be, stran- 
ger". "Do you keep tavern?" 'Of course I do; I keep tavern like h — 1," said Seth, fiddling away 
with all his might. "Just pile in; hang your freight on the floor, and make yourself at home. "The 
boys," continued Seth, "have been having a little fun, but if there is a whole table or plate in the 
house, I'll get you some cold hash toward night". The stranger didn't like this peculiarly western 
reception, so took his departure, leaving Kinman still enjoying his violin. 

Late in the afternoon the traveler presented himself at the Taylor 
House. Lieut. William Tinney met him outside with his most austere 
expression and greeted him : 

"Good morning, good morning, sir; walk in, sir; take a seat, sir; shave you as soon as the water 
GETS warm! The stranger not requiring the services of a barber, walked off in haste and amazement 
and the Lieutenant swore audbly that he was "some infernal Yankee, come out west to steal hon- 
est people's money." It is needless to say that the next steamboat that reached Pekin had an 
eager passenger at the landing waiting the opportunity to escape such peculiar hospitality. 

The two most prominent hotels of Pekin were the American and 
Tazewell. The American was built and run by Chas. Morris. In after 
years it was sold to Thos. D. Conaghan, who, as owner and proprietor, 
renamed it the Planters House, which it remained, until sold to a Mr. 
Kuhn, who converted it into an office and business building — ^"Ktihn" 
building, 353-355 Court street. 

The Tazewell House, one of the most prominent of its day, was 
built by Richard Snell. A Mr. Cloudas was one of its early landlords. 
Following Mr. Cloudas, Messrs. Stone & McDougal became proprietors. 
Then came 'Squire Wm. A. Tinney, who catered to such guests as Abra- 
ham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, David Davis, and the other notables 
of that day. It retained its name until purchased by Mr. T. K. Bemis, 
who renamed it the Bemis House, which it remained iintil abandoned 
and torn down. It stood at the corner of Court and Front streets, the 
present site of the little park at the west end of Court street. 



16 



Early and Notable Events 



During the year (1S49) the county seat was removed from Tremont 
to Pekin. The erection of the old Pekin court house was begun by a 
committee appointed by the Legislature, consisting of Dr. Wm. S. Maus, 
Thos. N. Gill, James Haines, David Mark and T. J. S. Flint. The funds 
were contributed almost wholly by the citizens of Pekin, and the build- 
ing cost about $8,000. "Uncle" James Haines, lately deceased, had 
charge of the construction. It was not permanently occupied until 1850. 

Covenant Lodge No. 48, I. O. O. F., of Pekin, HI., was granted a 
Charter under date of July 26th, 1849. 

Pekin Lodge, No. 29, A. F. & A. M., was chartered in 1849. 

Empire Lodge, No. 126, A. F. & A. M., was chartered Oct. 3, 1853. 

Pekin Chapter, No. 25, R. A. M., charter issued Sept. 27, 1855. 

In 1850, the great thoroughfare of travel and shipment of merchan- 
dise, was by way of steamboats, canalboats and flatboats, the greater 
part being by steamboat. The record of the steamboats doing business 
on the Illinois river, even as far north as Peru, is given below: 



NAME OF BOAT. TONNAGE. TRIPS 

Alleghany Mail 77 2 

Lamartine 175 4 



TRIPS 

.... 6 



Daniel Hillman 145., 

Pioneer 209., 

Falcon 144.. 

Mountaineer 213. 

Kingston 145.. 

Archer 148. 

Planter 200. 

Martha No. 2 177. 



Movastar 140., 

Avalanche 220.. 

Senator 121.. 

Prairie Bird 215.. 

Tiger 83.. 

Andrew Jackson 290.. 

Connecticut 249.. 

Robert Fulton 200.. 

Ocean Wave 205.. 



NAME OF BOAT. TONNAGE. 

Piasa 85.., 

Magnet 98 8 

Pearl 54 4 

Comet 116 18 

Financier 125 18 

America 145 30 

Uncle Toby 109 2 

Hudson 95 16 

Prairie State 288 44 

Kentucky 140 22 

Daniel Boone 170 2 

Mary Stevens 225.. 4 

Newton Wagner 105 6 

Visitor 141 2 

Mary Blain 181 2 

Oswego 187 4 

Clermont 112 1 

R. H. Lee 180 2 

.1236 



NAME OF BOAT. TONNAGE. TRIPS 

Schuylkill 272 6 

Enterprise 200 2 

Wyoming 198 2 

Alliquippa 215 8 

Buena Vista 266 4 

St, Croix 160 16 

Laurel 80 10 

Citizen 171 2 

Beardstown 80 40 

^ Gov. Briggs 91 6 

Lightfoot 155 4 Jewess 220 18 

Alvarado 135 22 

Niagara 215 12 

Susquehanna 142 14 

J. J. Crittenden 225 2 

Caleb Cope 80 40 

Belmont 115 36 

Gen. Gaines 160 12 

Time and Tide 261 6 

Eureka 115 26 Total ton. & trips.... 9463 

The Free-School System for the State of Illinois, was established 
in 1855. The development of the system was not perfected until 1857. 

The county offices opposite the Tazewell Hotel, were erected in 
1856-57. They have been razed to make room for the new court house. 

In 1862, the second county jail, (torn down to give way to the new), 
holding 15 to 20 persons, was built at a cost of $7,000. "it was a two- 
story brick and contained offices and stone cells below and sheriff's 
family quarters above. It stood northwest of the present county jail, 
and faced Court street. The new county jail and Sheriff's residence, 
was erected in 1892. 

The first steamboat disaster, occurred Sunday morning, April 16, 
1852. The packet steamers "Prairie State" and "Avalanche," south- 
ward bound, landed almost simultaneously at the Pekin wharf, both car- 
rying a high (racing) pressure of steam. The "Prairie State" drew out 
from the landing ahead of her competitor, and had reached a point 
nearly opposite our present gas works, when her boiler exploded with 
terrific force. It was the "church-going" hour, but the worship of the 
Deity was changed to the duties of the good Samaritan, and our great 
hearted citizens rallied to the rescue. The "Avalanche" steamed down 
to the wreck and towed what was left of the beautiful "Prairie State" 
back to the Pekin wharf. Many of the bodies were recovered and 
placed side by side under the walnut and oak trees that fringed the 
bank of the river, and every available house became a temporary hos- 
pital in which to alleviate the scalded and maimed passengers and crew. 
Mr. James Sallee, a passenger from Peru, 111., to Texas, informed 
the writer that the "Prairie State" was crowded with passengers, 
many of whose bodies, he thinks, were never recovered. The exact 
loss was never ascertained. He humorously stated that he was literally 



TREMONT COURT HOUSE: 



The generous gift by Mr. John Harris, 
who gave 20 acres of land, and a dona- 
tion of $2000 by the citizens of Tremont, 
induced the Commisioners to report in 
favor of Tremont as the most centrally 
located and proper place for the county 
seat, and the Legislature approved. 

This building was constructed of red 
brick, 40x60 ft. in size, two stories high, 
with Grecian columns to support front 
(like old Pekin building). The Tremont 




structure hadan octagonal cupo- 
la with a rounded dome covered 
with copper and surmounted 
with a weathervane. 
The building contract called 
$14,450.00. It was not ready 
occupancy until 1839. 




Abraham Lincoln was attending court in the above building when challenged hy Gen. Shields. 
They assembled on an Island opposite Alton, 111., to fight a duel with cavalry broad-swords. The 
friends with them, interposed, the difficulty was adjusted, and Lincoln and Shields became friends. 



GEN. JAMES SHIELDS 

LAWYER, SOLDIER AND STATESMAN. 

Born in Dungannon, Ire., 1810. Died at Ottumwa, 
Iowa, June 1, 1879. 
Jas. Shields came to America at the age of 16. 
In 1832 began practice, as a lawyer, at Kaskaskia, 
111. Elected to the Legislature of Illinois in 1836, 
and was made State Auditor in 1839; Judge of 
the State Supreme Court in 1843, and Land Com- 
missioner in 1845. He entered into the Mexican 
War in 1846, and was made a Brigadier-General. 
For gallantry at the battle of Cerro-Gordo, where 
he was severely wounded, was promoted to the 
rank of Brevet Maj.-Gen'l. He was also wounded 
at the battle of Chapultepec; mustered out in 
1848, and appointed Governor of the Territory of 
Oregon. In 1849, was elected U. S. Senator from 
Illinois. He removed to Minnesota in 1856, and 
became a U. S. Senator in 1858, and after filling 
out a short term, took up residence in California. 
In 1861, was made a Brigadier-General by Presi- 
dent Lincoln, but owing to the debilitating effects 
of numerous wounds, resigned in 1863, and settled 
at Carrolton, Mo. In 1874 and 1879, was elected 
to the Legislature of Missouri, then a U. S. Sena- 
tor to fill out an unexpired term, thus giving him 
the special distinction of being the only patriot 
to serve as U. S. Senator from three States. 




18 



Early and N o t d b I e Event 



"blown into Pekin." One of the oddities in connection with the explo- 
sion, was related to us by Mrs. Emma (Tharp) Bequeaith, a daughter of 
Jonathan Tharp, who lived on the high ground east of the present gas 
works, to-wit: Her brother, who was shaving, had completed but one 
side of his face, when the explosion startled him, and with a realizing 
sense of duty to be performed, he hastily went to the rescue, not know- 
ing how ludicrous he appeared until attention was called to his odd fac- 
ial appearance. 

The longest winter, recorded for this county, since the advent of the 
white man, was that of 1842-43. It began November 4, 1842, and did 
not end until April, 1843. 

CO. G, FOURTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS, IN 
THE MEXICAN WAR, a Tazewell County com- 
mand, returned to Pekin on June 7th, 1847, after 
an active service of one year under Gen.Winfield 
Scott. Out of a full company, three died in hos- 
pital, one died of wounds received at Cerro Gordo. 
First Lieut. Knott died of yellow fever, and his 
remains were brought home for burial. Ten were 
discharged for disability, one left sick in hospital 
and one deserted. Edward Jones, was Captain; 
Leonard A. Knott, 1st Lieut.; Wm. A. Tinney, 
2nd Lieut.; Benj. F. Perry, 3rd Lieut.; John M. 
Gill, 1st Sergt.; John W. Page, 2nd Sergt.; Saml. 
Rhoads, 3rd Sergt.; Jesse A. Nason, IstCorpl.; 
Richard S. Updyke, 2nd Corpl.: Wm. W. Moore. 
3rd Corpl.; Joseph Turner, Musician. The above 
was the official roster at the start, but sickness 
and discharge called for some promotions, from 
the ranks, during the term of service. General 
Edward D. Baker was the first Colonel of the 4th. 
Mr. John G. Hammer, who was a pioneer citi- 
zen of Pekin, is now passing his declining years 
with a daughter, Mrs. R. R. Greer, at Loami, 111. 
Comrade Hammer, on June 26th, 1916, will have 
reached his 96th year, having been born in Fred- 
JOHN G. HAMMER. erick county, Maryland, June 26th, 1820. He is 

the only known living member of Co. G, 4th 111. Inft., and of the first niembers of Covenant Lodge, 
No. 48, I. 0. 0. F. of Pekin, 111. As a carpenter-builder, he is credited with having driven the first 
nail in the old State House, at Springfield, 111., now the Sangamon County court house. 

Among the trophies secured and brought back by Co. G, from the 
land of the Montezumas, was a convent bell, captured at Vera Cruz. 
It was safely conveyed home, packed in straw in a hogshead, and for 
many years did service in the belfry of the old Methodist Church, which 
stood on the corner of N. Capitol and Margaret streets, Pekin, just 
north of the Farmers National Bank Building. When the old church 
was sold, the bell passed into the hands of the Catholic denomination, 
and for many years called to worship the members of St. Joseph's 
Church, corner S. Second and Susannah streets, Pekin. The bell is 
still in possession of St. Joseph's Society. 

Sergt. John M. Gill, of Co. G, brought back from the land of the 
worshipers of the sun, Santa Anna's wooden leg, which was found in 
his carriage after his escape from our soldiers. After preserving the 
trophy for many years, Sergt. Gill presented it to the State, and it has 
been placed among the Illinois war trophies at the Capitol in Spring- 
field. 

In order to preserve the record of the "Battle of the Giants," as the 
unparalleled debates, between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Doug- 
las, in 18.58, were termed, we deem it fitting to give dates and cities in 
Illinois when and where held: On August 21st, at Ottawa; August 27th, 
at Freeport; September 15th, at Jonesborough; September 18th, at 
Charleston; October 7th, at Galesburg; October 13th, at Quincy; Octo- 
ber 15th, at Alton. 

On the 4th of July, 1859, the first rail was laid and the first spike 
driven on the prospective Illinois River Railroad. This was made a 
gala day. This road was not completed until it passed into new hands 




Early and Notable Events 19 

and re-named the Peoria, Pekin & Jacksonville. In the early seventies 
it again changed hands, and was re-christened the Chicago, Peoria & 
St. Louis Railroad, which it remains today. 

The first legal hanging was that of John Ott, on March 1st, 1861. 
This was for the murder, by Ott, of Mrs. Orendorff and her little, girls, 
who lived near Delavan. Ott was hung in the northeast corner of court 
square, Pekin. 

The first lynching took place August 1st, 1869, and Wm. Berry, who 
had murdered Deputy Sheriff, Henry Pratt, on the 30th of July, was 
taken from the county jail at Pekin, by an armed body of men who had 
overpowered the jailor and his aids, and hanged to the limb of a tree 
that stood near the Court street end of the cement walk that leads to the 
new county jail. This prompt action broke up a gang of desperadoes 
who lived near Circleville, Tazewell county. 

The first assemblage of farmers, to exhibit their products in compe- 
tition, in Tazewell county, according to memory of our informant (who 
was a boy at the time), was what they termed a "Colt Show," at which 
there were on exhibit half a dozen mares with their colts. This embryo 
fair took place at Tremont in the early "forties." From a "Colt Show" 
it grew into quite a reputable fair, where the products of the farm and 
home were shown in competition, up to the close of the Civil War. It was 
followed by the fair organized in Pekin in 1870, which gave three of 
the best county fairs ever held in Illinois. The last was badly managed 
which resulted in its destruction. Then came the organization of the 
Pomona (Goddess of fruits) Fair, near Hopedale; then the Mackinaw 
Fair, which became the forerunner of the Farmers' Institute of the 16th 
Congressional District. The Tazewell County Agricultural Board was 
organized in 1879, with grounds located at Delavan, and regardless of 
the usual vicissitudes which form a part of the existence of every county 
fair, still holds commendable annual exhibits. 

A secret organization was formed soon after the beginning of the 
Civil War, composed of sympathizers of the states in rebellion. It was 
named "Knights of the Golden Circle," etc.. The familiar title given 
the Knights and kindred bodies, was "Copperheads." These societies, 
had pledged themselves to harass the families of the Union soldiers 
in the field, thus causing desertion on the part of the husband, father, 
or son, so they might be at home to protect their loved ones, thereby 
weakening the Union army. The Knights, etc., were also pledged to 
liberate Confederate prisoners who were confined in Northern prisons. 

To hold in check these secret enemies of the Union cause, there 
was organized, in Tazewell county, in 1862, the first lodge of the 
"Union League of America," whose motto was to do all in its power 
to protect the families of those in the Union army, encourage enlist- 
ments, and hold in check the threatened purposes of the Knights, etc. 
George H. Harlow, afterwards Secretary of State, then a resident of 
Pekin, Illinois, was one of the leading spirits in its organization. The 
Union League soon had lodges in every Union State. Its membership 
reached about 180,000. It became a great aid to the Union cause. 

The first marriage to take place in the new "seat of justice," was 
that of Gilbert Wright and Louise Vohland, both of Washington, Taze- 
well county, the date being March 27, 1916. Judge Jas. M. Rahn "tied 
the nuptial knot." 

The first divorce granted in the new court house, severing the mar- 
ital relation between Elnora S. and Fred. W. Grover, occurred May 1st, 
1916, Judge Theodore N. Green, presiding. 

Tazewell county was represented in the great war for the the preservation of the Union, by 
the following numbered regiments, to which is added, in figures, the number of Tazewell county 
men, as compiled from the Illinois Adjutant General's Report. 

ILLINOIS INFANTRY.-The7th, 102; 8th, 145; 15th, 13; 17th. 20; 18th, 13; 26th, 27; 27th, 6; 
28th, 25; 31st, 44; 32nd, 11; 38th, 32; 44th, 95; 45th, 11; 47th, 228; 49th, 7; 51st, 9; 58th, 21; 61st; 



20 Early and Notable Events 

20; 62nd, 7; 67th, 10; 58th, 32; 73rd, 70; 85th, 88; 86th, 98; 94th, 38; 100th, 11; 104th, 82; 108th, 
325; 115th, 65; 117th, 7; 139th, 52; 145th, 9; 146th, 45; 148th, 49; 152nd, 88; 154th, 13; 155th, 22; 
56th, 6. -Total, 1967. 

ILLINOIS CAVALRY.— The 3rd, 81; consolidated 3rd, 31; 4th, 33; 5th, 7; 6th, 12; 7th, 13; 
8th, 4; 9th, 8; 10th, 3; 11th, 164; 12th, 6; 14th, 21. -Total, 383. 

MISCELLANEOUS. -Artillery, 5; 20th U. S. Infantry, 11; First Army Corps, 24; 8th Mo. In- 
fantry, 47. To which should be added several hundred who enlisted in the Infantry, Cavalry, 
Artillery and Navy, while out of the county, and were credited to the place where they enlisted 
or were recruited. It is safe to chronicle that Illinois and Tazewell county citizens served in every 
State and Territory in the Union— even including the Confederacy. 

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR VETERANS. -About 200 soldiers, comprising Co. "K,"of Dela- 
van, and Co. "G," of Pekin, as members of the 5th Illinois Infantry, departed for Springfield, the 
rendezvous. May 27th, 1898. Co. "K" was commanded by Capt. Watkins, aided by First-Lieut. 
Ball and Second-Lieut. Dickinson. Co. "G" was led by Capt. E. L. Conklin, aided by First-Lieut. 
E. H. Mullen and Second-Lieut. W. W. Sellers. All were mustered into the U. S. service on May 
4th. Under command of Col. J. S. Culver, they left Springfield for Chickamauga Park Camp, and 
arrived there on May 17th. The regiment, composed of the flower of Central Illinois manhood, 
were twice disappointed in their eager willingness to meet the enemy on Cuban soil. They 
returned home on Sept. 12th, 1898, and were jubilantly welcomed. 



HISTORY OF TOWNSHIPS. 

Following the brief history of each Township will be found the names 
of all citizens, with years they have served, and are to serve, as members 
of the Board of Supervisors frqm said Township, since 1850 : 

Fon du Lac Township— T. 26 N. R. 4 W. 

Under the provisions of the State Constitution of Illinois, adopted in 1847, counties were privi- 
leged to adopt either "County Court" or "Township Organization" form of government. At an 
election held in 1849, the latter plan was adopted. And the County Court appointed and commis- 
sioned Benjamin S. Prettyman, Anson Gillum and John M. Coons, as commissioners, to divide 
Tazewell County into towns or townships. They began at the northwest corner of the county and 
fixed the boundaries of the first township as they now are, naming it "Fon du Lac." 

Thomas Camlin, (the Daniel Boone of Tazewell County), was an early settler here. He 
was not only a great hunter, but a genial companion and an inimitable story-teller. Among other 
early settlers of Fondulac, were Jesse, Absalom and Jacob Funk, Jacob Wilson, Jacob Hepperly, 
Morgan Buckingham, Horace Crocker, Abraham Brown and Jefferson Huscham. (For map of 
the report of Commissioners and statement of early settlement see elsewhere in this compilation.) 

In section 11, Fon du Lac township, there is a mound which was probably used by the pre-his- 
toric Mound-builders, for remains have been unearthed that were of giant size At an early date 
there was found, in the hollow of a mammoth oak tree, growing on this mound, a human skull, 
which was held in position by the encircling growth of the tree. After its removal, it was in 
possession of a Dr. Hazzard for several years, but to-day its whereabouts are unknown. 

The village of Fondulac was laid off June 20, 1855, and Bluetown April 1, 1864. East Peoria 
was incorporated July 1st, 1884 as Hilton, but in 1889, was changed to its present title, and has 
virtually absorbed the above named villages. 

C. J. Gibson 1850-53 John Lorimer 1870-71 Nicholas Schlagel 1885-87 

Daniel Trail 1854-57 John Lorimer jr 1872 Joseph Schertz 1888-91 

ThomasCamlin 1858 Samuel R. Mooberry 1873-75 J.J.Arnold 1892-1903 

John Leadley 1859 Jeremiah Stenger 1876-77 Edward W. Tucker 1904-05 

Samuel R. Mooberry 1860-65 John Lorimer 1878 Nicholas Freis 1906-18 

F. M. Wiles 1866 Samuel R. Mooberry 1879-80 

T. B. Pinkham 1867-69 Joseph Schertz 1881-84 

Washington Township— T. 26 N. Rs. 2 and 3 W. 

Washington township, east of Fond du Lac, was so named after the village and postofiice of 
that name. The first election was held in the district school-house in Washington. Wm. Holland 
was the first settler; he built his log cabin home on section 24, about 1820 or 1821. He was an 
expert gunsmith and blacksmith, and his services were sought by the pioneers both near and far. 
James McClure, Joseph Kelso, P. P. Scott, A. M. North, Abraham Wood, Wm. Week and Wm. 
Burr, were among the first settlers. The first log school-house was built on section 22, in 1833, and 
a Mr. Edmondson was the first school-master. The first church was erected by the Methodist 
society in 1838. Wm. Holland was the first Justice of the Peace. The village of Washington was 
laid off by Wm. Holland, March 4, 1834. On March 2nd, 1878, Washington became a city. 

James W. Wather 1850-51 Richard C. Dement 1864 Wesley B. Harvey, city.. .1873-78 

Lawson Holland 1852-53 John W. Daugherty 1865-66 D. S. Sheppard 1890-91 

W. A. Ross 1854 Benj. Tobias 1867-68 Christian Spring 1892-95 

J. S. Marsh 1855-58 Richard D. Smith 1869 C. L. Birkett 1896-1907 

D. L. Miles 1859-62 Peter Fifer 1870 M. C. Martini 1908-13 

Elias Wenger 1863 John H. Anthony 1871-89 Chris Strubhar 1914-18 




__GEORGE WASHINGTON 

"the father of his country." 

from an oil painting in the white house. 

"First in war, first in peace and first in the 

hearts of his countrymen." 

Born in Va., Feb. 22, 1732. Died at Mt. Vernon, 

Maryland, Dec. 14. 1799. 



_ ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

"the savior of his country." 
from an old photo taken during the civil war. 
"All that I am, or hope to be, 
I owe to my angel mother." 
Born in Kentucky, Feb. 12, 1809. Died at Wash- 
ington, D. C, April 15, 1865. 





__ GEN. ULYSSES S. GRANT 

"unconditional surrender" GRANT. 

"we will fight it out on this line if it takes 

all SUMMER." "let US HAVE PEACE." 

Born at Point Pleasant, Ohio, April 27. 1822. 
Died at Mt. Gregor. N. Y., July 23, 1885. 



GEN. JOHN A. LOGAN 

"black JACK." 

LAWYER, SOLDIER. AUTHOR AND STATESMAN. 

Illinois' beloved Union soldier and Comrade. 

Born at Brownsville. 111.. Feb. 9. 1826. Died at 

Washington, D. C, Dec. 26. 1886. 



22 



Early and Notable Events 



Deer Creek Township— T. 25. N. R. 2 "W. 

The boundaries of Deer Creek remain the same as they were. The first election took place at 
what was known as the Monmouth school-house. Major R. N. Cullom is credited with having 
named this township after the creek that courses through it. He was the first settler, locating in 
1828. Jas. Harvey, Robert Alexander, John Small, Hugh Ross and six sons were among the early 
settlers. Rev. Wm. Brown preached the first sermon. The first death was that of a twin brother 
of Hon. Shelby M. Cullom, James C, the infant son of R N. Cullom. The first couple to marry 
were Samuel Watson and Miss Alvira Perry, 'Squire Hittle tying the nuptial knot. Section 27 con 
tained the first school-house, in 183S, and Miss Nancy Parker was the first teacher. Julia Cullom 
was the first white child born in Deer Creek township. Mathew Kingman was the first Justice of 
the Peace. The village of Deer Creek was incorporated September 26th, 1899. 

Richard N. Cullom 1830-51 Abraham Chaffer 1867-68 A. L. Smith 1890 

E. H. Durham 1852 Alex. Small 1869 G. W. Smith 1891-92 

E. Bogardus 1853 Eri Bogardus 1870-76 Frank Field 1893-94 

"" George H. Small 1877-78 

James Mitchell 1879 

Eri Bogardus 1880-82 

T. C. Stout 1883-84 

James Mitchell 1885 

T. C. Stout 1886-88 

G. H. Small 1889 



Edwin H. Durham 1854-55 

James Mitchell 1856-57 

John Q. Adams 1858 

Alex. Small 1859-63 

Eri Bogardus 1864 

James Mitchell 1865 

R.N. Cullom 1866 



J. M. Butler 1895-1900 

W. H. Green 1901-02 

Geo. H. Small 1903-06 

F. L. Belsley 1907-10 

Johns. Nixon 1911-17 



Morton Township— T. 25. N. R. 3 W. 

Morton township was named in honor of Gov. Morton, of Massachussetts. The first election 
was held at W. W. Campbell's. A Mr. Soward settled on Section 31, about 1826 or 1827, and built 
the first pioneer log cabin. He was soon followed by a Mr. Field, Richard Ratliff, Mr. Crosby, John 
M. Roberts and four sons. Rev. William Brown was the first regular minister. In 1832, section 4 
contained the first log school-house. Like nearly all pioneer school-houses, it was used for church 
and town meeting purposes. The first Justices of the Peace were Joseph Evans and Wm. Sample. 
The village of Morton was laid off by James M. Campbell on Nov. 12, 1850. Organized in 1887. 

Peter Sweitzer has been a continuous member of the Board of Supervisors for over 25 years; 
Chairman about half of that time, and Chairman of the Permanent Building Committee during 
the entire time of the construction of the new court house at Pekin. He is the Dean of the Board. 



Horace Clark 1850 

Joel W. Clark 1851-59 

Anson Gillum 1860-62 

Charles R. Crandall 1863-66 

Wm. Munroe 1867-71 

Thomas Cooper 1872-73 

Wm. A. Moore 1874-75 



Samuel C. Smith 1876 

John H. Crandall 1877 

Samuel C. Smith 1878 

William Smith 1879-: 

Samuel C. Smith 1881 

Alex. Mooberry 1882 

A. W. Stewart 1883 



Erastus Roberts 1884 

W. F. Denne 1885-87 

Wm. Moschel (resigned) 1888 
W. A. Moore (elected to Legis- 
lature) 1889-91 

Peter Sweitzer 1891-1917 



Groveland Township— T. 25 N. R. 4 "W. 

James Scott was the first settler in Groveland township, building his log cabin home on Sec- 
tion 33, in 1827. Among other old settlers were John O'Brien and Mr. Trimble. Mr. O'Brien was 
elected Justice of the Peace in 1835, and filled the office with dignity and honor until 1867. Rev. 
Neele Johnson preached the first sermon in 1834. The boundaries of this township remain as lo- 
cated by the commissioners. The first election took place at the Randolph house in Groveland. 
This township took its name from the village, which was laid off by Isaac Roberts and Asa L. 
Davidson, May 30, 1836. 

Benjamin H. Harris 1867-71 

J. W. Mooberry 1872 

Geo. Landes 1873-74 

F, Shurtleff 1875 

Geo. Landes 1876 

Joel T. O'Brien 1877-78 

C. S. Worthington 1879 

Henry Schwartz 1880-82 

Pekin Township— T. 25 N. R. 5 W. 

To Pekin township, as originally bounded, has been added sections one, two, three and four, 
from Cincinnati on the south. For first settlers, and the very first historical facts and reminis- 
cences, see elsewhere in this volume. As Pekin embraces the major part of the township her 
history is synonymous with that of the township. At the land sales in Springfield, in 1828, the 
excitement over who should possess such valuable property as that encompassed by "Town Site," 
caused knives and pistols to be drawn. But the trouble was amicably adjusted. Major M. Crom- 
well was at the head of the successful bidders and the purchase was divided into twelve parts. 



George L. Parker 1850-51 

Robert Bradshaw 1852-54 

Charles G. Hinman 1855 

C. S. Worthington 1856-58 

Robert Bradshaw 1859 

C. S. Worthington 1860-62 

John L. Caldwell 186.3-64 

F. H. Hancock 1865-66 



Geo. Landes 1883 

Henry Schwartz 1884 

Geo. Landes 1885-98 

Barney Eisele 1899-1905 

John Strickf adden 1905-08 

Barney Eisele 1908-10 

Louis Rohlfing 1911-17 



SUPERVISORS 

AND 

EX-OFFICIO OVERSEERS 

OF THE 

POOR OF PEKIN TOWNSHIP. 

Wm. S. Maus 1850-51 

Jas. Haines 1851-53 

Wm. S. Maus 1853-67 

Wm.Don Maus 1867 

George Greigg 1867-69 



Peter Weyhrich 1869-70 

Joshua Wagenseller 1870-71 

John Stoltz 1871-73 

George Greigg 1873-75 

H. Didcock 1875-76 

Henry Lautz 1876 

Ernest Schurman 1876-77 

Henry Didcock 1877-78 

John C. Aydelott 1878-79 

Thomas R. Skelly 1879-80 

JohnHerget 1880-81 

H. P. Weyrich 1881-83 

Wm. Blenkiron 1883-85 



T. J. Edwards 1885-86 

Henry A. ReuHng 1886-87 

J. B. Mohler 1887-88 

C. B. Cummings 1888-90 

J. B. Cooper 1890-95 

L. Bergstresser, resin'd..l895-98 

F. T. Murray 1898-1907 

Henry Penno 1907-08 

D. L. Latham 1908-09 

F. T. Murray 1909-10 

D. L. Latham 1910-11 

Herberts. Mathews 1911-17 



Early and Notable Events 



23 



ASSISTANT SUPERVISORS. 



Joshua Wagenseller 1860 

Peter Weyhrich 1861-65 

Martin Stover 1866 

Teis Smith 1867-70 

John Herget 1871-72 

Wm. Don Maus 1873-74 

John Herget 1874 

D. C. Smith 1874 

H. Naylor 1874 

Peter Steinmetz 1875 

Wm. Don Maus 1876-77 

C. B. Cummings 1876 

Fred Smith 1876 

J. G. Weber 1876 

C. B. Cummings 1878-79 

E. Schurman 1878-79 

H. W. Hippen 1878 

I. Lederer 1879-80 

Richard D. Smith 1880 

J. M. Gill 1880-81 

August Winkel 1880-82 

C. B. Cummings 1881-87 

David Wandschneider...l881 



Otto F. Wieburg 1894 

Geo. Herget 1895 

E. R. Peyton 1895 

Chas. F. Gehrig 1896-1903 

Geo. Herget 1897-1901 

H. Birkenbusch 1897-1918 

C. F. Holland 1897 

Chas. F. Gehrig 1898 

A. Behrends 1898 

L. J. Albertsen 1899 

Dan'lSapp 1900 

H. H. Cole 1901 

Hello J. Rust 1902-05 

Chas. Kuecks 1904-05 

Henry Schwartz 1906-09 

Chas. F. Gehrig 1906-07 

Wm. E. Schurman, resigned 

1908-10 

Louis Luick 1910-11 

R. J. Neddermann 1910-11 

John E. Russell 1912-13 

Geo. N. Weber 1912-15 

Henry G. Gulon 1914-18 

Louis Luick 1916 

Fred. H. Soldwedel 1916-18 



G. H. Rupert 1855-57 

Samuel P. Bailey 1858 

Samuel Woodrow 1859 

James Hawkins 1860-62 

John W. Coleman 1863-65 

Jas. S. Hawkins 1866 



Philip S. Ripper 1894-97 

Ben. Bailey (resigned)... 1898-02 
H. Lutz (to fill vacancy). 1903-05 

Henry Lutz 1905-13 

John Alfs 1914-16 

C. J. Abbott 1916-18 



C. A. Becker 1883-84 

C. B. Cummings 1884-87 

J. B. Cooper 1884 

August Winkel 1884 

B. R. Hieronymous 1885 

John C. Aydelott 1885 

Henry Roos 1885-86 

J. Moenkemoeller 1886 

August Winkel 1886-87 

Erastus Rhoades 1887 

Wm. Weiss 1887-88 

P. W.Dunne 1888 

A. G. Walker 1888 

A.Behrens 1888 

Herman Becker 1889 

August Winkel 1889 

A. Behrends 1889-92 

Wm. Weiss 1890-93 

C. B. Cummings 1890-91 

Christ. Arnold 1890-92 

Geo. Herget 1892 

John Reuling 1893 

H. Birkenbusch 1893-96 

E. F. Unland 1894 

J. B Irwin 1894 

Cincinnati Township— T. 24 N. R. 5 W. 
The township of Cincinnati, joining Pekin on the south, lost its northern tier of sections by 
assignment to Pekin, thus bringing the spot where Jonathan Tharp built his first log cabin within 
Pekin's limits. The first election was held in Pekin at the "Cincinnati Hotel." Maj. Perkins, 
Elisha Perkins, William Woodrow, Hugh Woodrow, Samuel Woodrow, and John Summers, settled 
in this township as early as 1826; also Daniel Rankin and brother about the same time. The first 
school-house was built in the Summers and Woodrow settlement not later than 1828. 
South Pekin, in this township, was laid out July 10 1913. 

Samuel P. Bailey 1850-52 Timothy Larimore 1867-68 

Lemuel Allen 1853-54 John Eidmann 1869-72 

Geo. Stoehr 1873-78 

John Eidmann 1879-81 

Geo. Stoehr (did not qualify)-82 

John Eidmann 1882-84 

Philip S. Ripper 1885-93 

Wm. Bell (failed to qualify)-94 
Elm Grove Township— T. 24 N. R. 4 W. 
Elm Grove township has had no change in boundary. First election held at the school-house 
of the same name. John Dillon was the "advance guard" of the pioneer settlers, building his 
crude log cabin home as early as 1823. Among other early settlers were Hugh Montgomery, Alex 
McNight, Israel Shreves, Benj. Briggs, James Scott, Thornton Wilson, Jas. Wright, Thos. Bennett, 
Levi and Thos. Moulton, John Lord, John and Eli Redman, Rufus North and Alexander Barnes. 
A year or two later came W. Davis, Martin Miars, W. Edds and H. Davis, the later being the first 
tanner in the county. The first white child born was Isabella Briggs. The first to depart this 
life was Elizabeth Wilson. Jesse Dillon built the first school-house in 1826, and Joseph Dillon 
taught the first school. The Quakers erected the first church in the same year. The Methodists 
did not build their house of worship until 1842, The good Friend, Dr. Griffith, was the pioneer 
physician, as well as the first postmaster. 

Seth Talbot 1850-55 George W. Greeley 1866-67 

John Dillon 1856 Alfred E. Leonard 1868-71 

Daniel Hodson 1857-58 D. John Bennett 1872-80 

Seth Talbot 1859 J. W. Robinson 1881 

A. J. Davis 1860-62 George W. Greeley 1882 

George W. Greeley 1863-64 J. D. Ropp 1883 

Seth Talbot 1865 D. John Bennett 1884-85 

Tremont Township— T. 24 IN. R. 
After Tremont township was formed, the first election took place at the court house. James 
Chapman settled on section 16 in 1830. He was soon followed by Wm. Sterling, Wm. and James 
Broyhill, Michael Trout and David Lackland. Auburn, a short distance north of the present Tre- 
mont was the first town laid out in this township, but after the advent of the Tremont colony from 
New York, in 1834, it was soon abandoned. Margaret E. Lackland was the first-born. A postoffice 
was established in 1835, and Josiah James and J. H. Harris were the head of the colony, which 
laid out the village, and built a school house and church. The first postmaster was Wm. Samp- 
son. The county-seat was moved from Pekin to Tremont in 1836, then back to Pekin in 1849. 
Tremont remained under district control until March 11, 1835, when it was organized as a town. 

R. W. Briggs 1850 Edward Allen 1867 F. B. Wilson 1892-93 

John M. Bush 1851-52 Stephen Stout 1868-71 A. J. Davis, resigned 1894-97 

A.J.Davis 1872-73 F. J. Davis 1897 

Edward Pratt 1874 J. E. Russell 1898-03 

S. C. Hobart 1875-84 J. W. Baylor 1904 

J. W. White (resigned)... 1885-88 Wm. Noonan 1904-06 

W.O. McIntyreCaptd.)... 1888-89 E. L. Colter 1908-16 

James Dean 1890-91 J. P. Becker 1916-18 



W. H. Roof 1886-87 

T. H. Leonard 1888-91 

D. B. McLean 1892-93 

C. Hellemann jr 1894-98 

Edward Pratt 1899-1900 

B. L. Greeley 1901-05 

F. W. Hellemann 1906-18 

3 W. 



James K. Kellogg 1853-54 

Charles Emerson 1855 

Chas. J. Kellogg 1856-59 

Samuel R. Saltonstall... 1860-62 

Edward Allen 1863-65 

Peter Menard 1866 



24 



Early and Notable Events 



Mackinaw Township— T. 24 N. R. 2 W. 

Mackinaw township remains the same as to original boundary lines. In 1827, A. Smith made 
first settlement on section 23, and built the first log house. Among the early settlers were Samuel 
Judy, Mordecai Mobley, Elijah Sargent, Michael and Jonas Hittle. William Hittle was the first 
white child born in 1828. The first death was that of Abner Smith, which occurred in 1828. 
The village of Mackinaw was laid ofi" by George Hittle and E. Stout, May 26th, 1828. In 1830, 
Conway Rhodes and Miss Harmon were the first couple to be joined in holy wedlock. Jonas 
Hittle was made the first Justice of the Peace in 1830. During this year Silas B. Curtis opened the 
first school. Mackinaw was the first county seat, and the Commissioners who located the same, 
were Job Fletcher. Wm. Lee D. Ewing and Tom M. Neale. The name was derived from an Indian 
name of a river that flows through Tazewell county. The first court house was built in 1827. It 
was 18 feet wide and 24 feet long: one story and a half high, nine feet to the story; joint shingles 
roof; black walnut batton doors, well cased, two 8x10 inch twelve light windows in the lower story, 
and one four-light window in the front end of the half story; the lower floor was made of punch- 
eons hewn and jointed, and the upper floor, which also became the ceiling, was of sawed plank; 
the body of the house was of hewn logs, chinked and daubed, and protruding ends of logs sawed 
off; the lower windows were protected with wooden shutters; a seven-foot fire-place four logs high 
afforded heat from the rear-end of the court room. Amasa Stout received the munificent sum 
[then] of $125 for building, he being the lowest bidder. This was one of the first buildings in Taze- 
well to have glass windows. It stood on lot 1 block 11. In the early part of 1831, a 14-light win- 
dow took the place of the fire-place and a cast-iron stove graced the northwest corner of the court 
room, and a suitable chimney was built to carry off the smoke. A stairway was built in the north- 
east corner and the half-story above divided into two rooms. Mackinaw remained the county-seat 
until 1831, when it was moved to Pekin. 

The village of Lilly, in this township, was laid off January 21, 1871, by Edward H. Bacon. 

Lyman Porter 1850 Daniel W. Puterbaugh...l866 H. J. Puterbaugh 1893-94 

Jonas H. Hittle 1851-52 Geo. Miller 1867 J. C. Haybarger 1895-96 

David Judy 1853-56 Solomon Puterbaugh 1868 H. J. Puterbaugh 1897-98 

J. W. Brock 1857-58 Geo. Miller 1869-74 S. S. Smith 1899-1915 

Geo. Miller 1859-65 John H. Porter 1875-92 Walter Porter 1915-17 

Little Mackinaw Township— T. 23 N, R. 2 W. 

Little Mackinaw township retains original boundary lines, and its first election took place at 
a school-house on Mackinaw creek. The first settlement was made on section 8, by John and 
Samuel Stout. Among the pioneers were H. Buchanan and a gentleman named Hevenhill. The 
first death was that of an orphan child, in the family of Samuel Stout, in 1827. The first birth 
was in the family of Joseph Stout. Thos. F. Railsback taught the first school on section 5, in 1830. 
First sermon preached by Elder Ottman, at Mr. Railsback's home, in 1831. In 1867, Elder Geo. W. 
Minier, assisted by Messrs. Boyer and Stout, platted the village of Minier, located on section 22. 

B. F. Orendorff 1850 William Bennett 1870-71 Henry Imig (resigned)... 1890-93 

A. B. Davis 1851-52 Asa Hicks 1872-79 B.N. Ewing 1894-95 

F. 0. Kilby 1880 

Asa Hicks 1881-82 

Wm. Lilly 1883 

B. N. Ewing 1884-86 

Wm. Bennett 1887-89 



D. W. C. Orendorff 1853-54 

L. J. Summers 1855-62 

Zerah Munsell 1863 

John S. Briggs 1864-67 

Rodney J. Mitchell 1868-69 



B. N. Ewing (died in office) 96-01 
Chris Haning (to fill vacancy) 

1901-09 

B. F. Quigg 1910-18 



Hopedale Township— T. 23 N. R. 3 W. 

Hopedale township was first named "Highland." For early County map, see page 32. Aaron 
Orendorff, the first settler, built a log cabin on section 34, in 1827, Messrs. Whitten and Shaw 
came next. D. W. Orendorff, son of Aaron, born in 1828, was the first white child. Elias Ogden 
was the first Justice of the Peace, in 1829, commission signed by Gov. Ford. The first school was 
held at Mr. A. Orendorff's home in 1832, and a Mr. Smith was the first school teacher. The first 
school-house was built on section 2 in 1834. Shiloh was the name of the first church, and it was 
built about 1835. Hopedale was first named Osceola, but when a postofHce was petitioned for, the 
department reported adversely because there was another Osceola in Illinois. The old town was 
laid off' in 1853, by Thos. Orendorff, but the new town was not incorporated until February 22, 1869. 
The first Trustees of the new town were T. H. Orendorff, W. Neisen, J. R. Ogden and E. Barnum. 

Charles Holder 1850-53 Adolphus Russell 1867 E. T. Orendorff. 1882-85 

Edward Bird 1854 James R. Campbell 1868 N.F.Smith (died in office) -86-88 

Thomas Orendorff 1855 P. E. Davis 1869-70 C. S. Smith (fill vacancy) 1888-89 

Michael E. Pomfret 1871 

P. E. Davis :...1872 



Jesse Fisher 1856 

Eleazar Hodson 1857-60 

P. C. Davis 1861-62 

Thomas Orendorff 1863 

D. W. Britton 1864 

Levi Orendorff 1865 

Wm. E. Pomfret 1866 



E. T. Orendorff. 1890-92 

B. S. Ford 1893-94 



G. P. Orendorff 1873-75 Jolen Nutty 1895- 

P. E. Davis 1876 J. F. Schneider 1899-1912 

G. P. Orendorff 1877-78 Adolph Johnson 1913-17 

E.J. Orendorff 1879 

J. A. Roach 1880-81 



Dillon Township— T. 23 N. R. 4 W. 

Dillon township's boundary remains as at first located. Nathan Dillon, in 1823, settled on 
section 1, and erected a log-cabin home, it being the first one built in this township. Then came 
Jas. White, and later the families of Bailey, Studyvin, John and Jesse Trowbridge, Waggoner, 
Mount, Crabb, Kinman, and others. Hannah Dillon was the first white child born in this town- 
ship. Daniel Dillon and Patsey Alexander were the first pair to be wedded, 1825 being the year. 
Rev. Peter Cartwright preached the first sermon in Wm. Brown's log cabin home; and Jessie W. 
Fillin, was the first school teacher, in about 1833. The first school house was built on section 2, in 
1835. The first pioneer schools were held in log cabin homes and churches. Dillon village, first 
named Liberty, was laid out June 18 1836. 




GEN. EDWARD D. BAKER 

"the silver-tongued." 

lawyer, statesman and soldier. 

Born in London, Eng., Feb. 24, 1811. Killed at 

Ball's Bluff, Va., as Union General. Oct. 21, 1861 



RICHARD YATES 

"the WAR GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS." 

Born at Warsaw, Ky., in 1815. Died at St. Louis, 
Missouri, Nov. 27, 187.3. 




STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS 

"the LITTLE GIANT." 
TEACHER, LAWYER AND STATESMAN. 

Born April 23, 1813, at Brandon, Vt. Died June 
3, 1861, at Chicago, 111. 



COL. ROBERT G. INGERSOLL 

LAWYER, AUTHOR, ORATOR. 

Born at Dresden, N. Y., Aug. 11, 1833. Died at 
Dobb's Ferry, L. I., N. Y., July 21, 1899. 



26 E a r I y a n d N o t a b I e E V e n t s 

Nathan Dillon 1850 Ezra Rector 1863 Daniel Brown 1882 

C- Gill... 1851-53 John A. Reinagle 1864 John Fitzgerald 1883-84 

Nathan Dillon 1854 Sherrod Williams 1865 Ralph Allen .... 1885-86 

Sherrod Williams 1855-57 Jonathan Schureman... 1866 W. M Mount 1887-94 

E- p.v.Hobert 1858 Mathias Mount 1867-75 Stephen Studyvin 1895-1915 

S Williams 1859-60 C. W. Waltmire 1876 Frank E. Canopy 1915-17 

H. C. Sutton 1861-62 Mathias Mount 1877-81 

Sand Prairie Township— T. 23 N. R. 5 W. 

Sand Prairie, at first had five-sixths of Malone attached, and was named "Jefferson " It is 
now SIX miles square. Elisha and Major Perkins, (the latter was killed during the Black Hawk 
War), were the first pioneer settlers who built their crude cabins on section 1, about 1822. Among 
other early comers were Gideon Hawley, Thos. Lander, John Vancil, John Summers, and Mr. 
Shipman. Wm. Woodrow, Isaac Dillon, Joseph Haines, Daniel Rankin, John Shelton, Jas. Reese, 
et. al., came later. John Summers lost a son, and John Vancil a daughter, who died at an early 
date. The celebrated pioneer preacher, Peter Cartwright, delivered the first sermon in John 

Vancil s log cabin, about 1823. Rev. Mr. Carmac, who lived for several months in a tent 

near the Mackinaw river, was the first regular M. E. preacher. Mrs. Sarah Hinkle was the first 
teacher, and her log-cabin school-house stood on section 17— date, 1827. Joseph Haines is credit- 
ed with erecting the first frame dwelling and barn in this township, as well as Tazewell county, 
the first in 1829 and the latter in 1831. The village of Circleville, in this township, was laid off by 
Spencer Field and E. M. Perkins, August 7, 1837. The village of Green Valley, was laid off by 
Samuel Schureman, October 19, 1872, and incorporated March 11th, 1916. 

W. J. Tompson 1850 Moses R. Meeker 1870-72 P. W. Weyrich 1892-95 

Lewis Prettyman 1851-55 James H. Kilpatrick 1873-74 J. D. Philips 1896-1907 

James Hamson 1856-64 Jesse Black 1875-77 Peter Urish 1908-13 

Henry A. Sweet 1865 John Meyers 1878-82 W. F. Mcintosh, resind.. 1914-15 

Jonathan Totten 1866-67 Peter E. Ripper 1883-87 John T. Biggs 1915-16 

John Schaefer 1868-69 A. Fisher 1888-91 John P. Weyrich 1916-18 

Spring Lake Township— Ts. 23 and 24 N. Rs. 6 and 7 W. 

Spring Lake remains about the same as originally laid out. It was not settled upon as early as 
other townships owing, no doubt, to the prejudice for sandy and swamp lands. Joseph Offutt 
built the first log cabin near the lake bearing the name of the township, as early as 1839. The Mc 
Leashes, Hibbards and Claytons, came next; then as the years rolled on, the Hawkinses, Abra- 
ham Wood, Eh Haas, Charles Seiwell, Ezekiel Poe, Valentine Haas, and others. The first death 
was that of J. 0. Offutt, which occurred Oct. 10, 1841. Chas. Seiwell and Deborah Clayton, in 1842, 
were the first to be joined in holy wedlock. The first school-house was built on section 11, in 1849, 
and Daniel Hawkins became the first teacher. A Mormon, named Woods, preached the first ser- 
mon at the home of Mr. Grover. Louis White, an early settler, said "one such sermon was all a 
square-thinking man could endure." In 1856, the Dutch Reform Society built the first church. As 
an incident of pioneer life, Mrs. V. Haas had the unique experience of a trip on board the first 
flat-boat, loaded with grain, that floated from Spring Lake to St. Louis. 

The village of Spring Lake was laid off on May 15, 1852, by Thomas G. Conant. 

George H. Daniels 1850-51 E. A. VanDeusen 1875 J. C.VanOstrand (resigned) 

Elbert Park 1852-53 Daniel Sapp 1876-83 1893-98 

J. C. VanOstrand 1854-65 S. F. Harbaugh 1884-85 R. G. Golden 1898 .00 

Ezekiel Poe 1866-69 Edward Bailey 1886 W.E.Scott 1901-10 

Edward Bailey 1870 H. S. Marshall 1887-89 Geo. M. Lowry 1911-14 

Daniel Sapp 1871-74 E. D. Golden 1890-92 W. H. Beimfohr 1914-17 

Delavan Township— T. 22 N. R. 4 W. 

Delavan township, originally had portions of Boynton and Malone attacted. During a 
western trip, made by Mr. Jonas R. Gale, as a guest of Mr. Wright, of Dillon, in 1836, he was much 
impressed with the beautiful prairie land, and meeting Mr. Edward C. Delavan, at Tremont, pro- 
posed to Mr. D. that a colony be organized at Providence, R. I. Mr. Delavan acquiesced, and an 
organization, with a capital of over $30,000, was formed and 22,000 acres of the land which sur- 
rounds the present city of Delavan, was entered. Under date of Sept. 19, 1836, the company be- 
came a reality, with the following list of stockholders; John Jenks, James Brown, Henry R. and 
David C. Green, Samuel B. Harris, Munson Allen, V. N. Edwards, Samuel B., Daniel C. and Benj. 
F. Gushing, Wm. C. Cooke, Jonas R. Gale and D. C. Jenks. The land was laid off in 160-acre farms, 
with a town lot 300 feet square to go with each farm, as a winter home-site. The farms were sold 
at auction, at Providence, R. I., the highest bids not exceeding $1,000. Henry R. Green, Deacon L. 
Allen and S. B. Harris, were the locating committee and Henry R. Green, the financial agent. In 
1837, the Delavan House was built, mostly from materials shipped from the East. W. W. Cross- 
man, who had charge of the construction, with his family, came with the carpenters. Mrs. Cross- 
man used to relate "that it was first dreary and lonesome for she did not see a white woman for 
months". In 1840, when Hon. Ira B. Hall became landlord of the Delavan House, it became one 
of the noted hostelries between Peoria, Pekin and Springfield. The village of Delavan was laid 
off by Henry R. Green, February 1, 1841; then in 1888, incorporated as a city. 

One of the humorous features connected with sale of the Delavan Colony's land, was a map, 
which exhibited a steamboat lying at the wharf (at the mill site). Locust Street. Who has one? 

Wm. W. Grossman 1850-55 Benj. F. Orendorff 1867-68 C. W. Hopkins 1893-94 

Ira B. Hall 1856 Richard Holmes 1869-74 Wm. Moorehead 1895 

Henry R. Pratt 1857-62 M. D. Beecher 1875 C. W. Hopkins 1896-1900 

Henry R. Green 1863 Richard Holmes 1876-80 J. 0. Jones 1901-15 

James H. McKinstry 1864-65 W. R. Baldwin 1881-88 Eugene Orndorff 1915-17 

H. L. Fisher 1866 Wm. H. Ambrose 1889-92 



Early and Notable Event 

Hlttle Township— T. 22 N. R. 2 W. 



27 



This township was named "Union" by the Commmissioners, then by the Board of Supervigors 
changed to "Waterford"— then to "Armington," and finally to "Hittle," all during the year 1850. 
The iirst settlers locating herein, in 1826, were George Hittle, (after whom the township 
derived its name), his son Jonas, and son-in-law, John W. Judy. Then came the Hainlines and 
Wm. Bart, Messrs. Perry and Williamson, in 1827, and Wm. Hieronymus in 1828; then between 
the latter date and 1835, Messrs. Jacob Albright, Joseph Richmond, Martin G. Stafford, Thomas 

Burt, and Quisenbury. Eliza Jane Hittle was the first child born. May 29, 1829. John Hittle 

died on Sept. 1, 1827. The first couple married were Wm. Hefferd and Miss Elizabeth Perry, date 
1828. Rev. Mr. Walker preached the first sermon at George Hittle's home, in 1826. C. Ewing. in 
1827, taught the first school, on section 16. Isham Wright became the first Justice of the Peace. 
The village of Armington, in this township, was platted Aug. 7, 1855, by H. Armington. 

Hesekiah Armington 1850 ■ Peter Paugh 1872-73 

David Hainline 1851-53 Lorenzo HainUne 1874 

John H. Burt 1875-76 

John Q. Darnell 1877 

John H. Burt 1878 



R. B. Marley 1854 

David Hainline 1855-57 

Ellis Dillon 1858 



E. E. Darnell (to fillvacancy)-88 

Jonathan Merriam 1889-97 

J. M. Guy 1898-99 

S. B. Hainline 1900-01 

Mathias Kampf 1902-09 

Frank Patterson 1910-11 

D. M. Kampf 1912-13 

F. M. Patterson 1914-18 



S. K. Hatfield 1859-60 John Q. Darnell 1879-82 

Jonathan Merriam 1861-62 D. S. Dempsey 1883-84 

George N. Bryson 1863-69 John Q. Darnell (died in office) 

L. M. Stroud 1870-71 1885-88 

Boynton Township— T. 22 N. R. 3 W. 

Boynton township was not organized until 1854. It was named in honor of Mr. Boynton. Joe 
Grant (or (5rout) made the first settlement on section 9, in 1839. Albert, son of Robert Houston, 
was the first white child born, (1842). Among other settlers, prior to 1852, we find Benjamin Roe, 
G. W. Clamon (or Clarnow), Samuel Faylor, John Blair, Andrew Kerr, Wm. Benton, Wm. Milner, 
Charles and Richard Holden, John T. Scates, Wm. and Peyton Alexander and John Jacobus. The 
first Justice of the Peace was John Houston. Ira Judy became the first Constable. The first 
school was held at Philip B. Ware's residence, section 21, in 1854, and a Mr, Phillips was the 
teacher. The first marriage took place in 1852, the contracting couple being J. T. Morgan and 
Miss Kitchell. 

John N. Snedeker 1866 E. C. Brennemann 1892-94 

Wm. Slaughter 1867 John Steiger 1895-98 

John Reardon 1868-69 Henry Curtis 1899-1902 

Wm. Slaughter 1870-72 R. A. Brawner, resigned..l903-06 

John F. Beezley 1873 John Steiger 1906 

Wm. Morehead 1874 

John F. Beezley 1875-78 

Jacob Brennemann 1879-86 

J. J. Unsicker 1887-92 



John Betzelberger 1907-10 

Wm. Curtis 1911-12 

C. C. Reardon 1913-17 



Philo Baldwin 1854 

R. B. Marley 1855-56 

Andrew Kerr (resigned) 

Stephen K. Hatfield 1857-58 

Ellis Dillon 1859 

Wm. Lafever 1860-62 

Ellis Dillon 1863 

R. B. Marley 1864 

John Shurts 1865 

Malone Township— T. 22 N. R. 5 W. 

The first settlers of Malone township, came as late as 1850, owing no doubt to the fact that 
much of the land was unfit for cultivation — "sand hillsand swamp." They were Silas Dowd, Eber 
Pugh, James McCoy, James and John Wilson, Dr. Hubbard S. Latham and son, Wm. P. Latham, 
(the Lathams, father and son, were among the '49-ers, direct from the California gold-fields). 
Joseph Watts, Wm. Boyer, and others. The first marriage in 1850 was that of Frances M. Griffln 
to a Miss McCoy, daughter of James McCoy. The first school-master was Mr, A. Kernman. Rev. 
Samuel Smith was one of the first preachers. Dr. H. S. Latham was the first Justice of the Peace 
and his son, H. S. Jr., the first Constable. Even as late as the organization of this township, deer 
and feathered game were plentiful, and the numerous wolfs kept the settlers alert. Malone was 
the last township created. Since then, over ten thousand acres have been drained, and are now 
classed among the most productive in the county. 

On Friday, July 30, 1897, at about 7 o'clock P. M., a tornado struck and crushed the residence 
of Supervisor H. C. McDowell, in this township, killing Mr. H. C, and a nephew, H. E. McDowell, 
Mrs. Samuel Brownlee and two children, and Miss Jessie Groves, and injuring Mrs. H. C. McDow- 
ell, Charles and Mary, son and daughter. Among the unprecedented features of this tornado was 
the driving of wheat straws, like nails, into trees; stripping feathers from chickens; tearing eyes 
out of horses; lifting a drove of sheep, which were carried to "parts unknown." 'This was the 
most destructive and death-dealing storm that has ever visited Tazewell County. 



Wm. P. Latham 1854-58 

James Wilson 1859 

H. S. Latham, (died in office)... 

1860-64 

Wm. D. Cleveland, (to fill va- 
cancy) 1864-67 

Wm. E. McDowell 1868 

James K. Pugh 1869 

J. M. Wilson 1870-72 

Wm. E. McDowell 1873-74 

John Cline 1875-77 

James K. Pugh 1878-81 



E. D. Worstall 1882 

J. F. Barton 1883 

E. D. Worstall 1884 

J. C. Drake 1885-86 

D. L. Latham (resigned) 1887-89 
W. P. Latham (to fill vacancy) 

1889 
Wm.Boyer!!!..'!!.'.'.'!''.'!!'.'.'.!!l889 
John M. McDowell 1890-91 

E. D. Worstall (died in office) 

1892-93 



T. J. Barton 1893-95 

H. C. McDowell (died in office) 

1896-97 

John McDowell (to fill vacancy) 

1897 

W. H. Worstall 1898-99 

John Kuszmaul 1900-01 

T.J. Watts 1902-05 

John T. Biggs 1906-07 

James M. Worstall 1908-16 

Walter Frazee 1916-18 



TAZEWELL COUNTY OFFICIALS. 



Joel W.Clark 1860 

M. Tackaberry 1861 

Wm. Don Maus 1862 

DavidKyes 1865 



Mordecai Mobley 1827-28 

John C. Morgan 1828-36 

John H. Morrison 1836-47 

William Cromwell 1847-49 

Richard W. Ireland 1849-53 



Mordecai Mobley 1827-28 

John C. Morgan 1828-34 

Edward Jones 1834 

John A. Jones 1842-56 

Merrill C. Young 1856-60 



Charles Turner 1860-64 

C. A. Roberts 1864-68 

Cassius G. Whitney 1868-72 

W.F.Henry 1872-76 



John Benson 1827-29 

Abraham Carlock 1829-30 

Philip B. Miles 1830 

Anson Demming 1830-32 

Benjamin Doolittle 1832 

George W. Miles 1832-33 

Thomas Snell 1833-35 

Benjamin Briggs 1835-36 

Davis Travis 1836-37 

Benjamin Briggs 1837-39 



Wm. H. Hodge 1827-30 

Philip B. Miles 1830-32 

James Scott 1832-35 

Alfred Phillips 1835-36 

Wm. A. Tinney 1836-40 

Benjamin Briggs 1840-44 

Robert W. Briggs 1844-48 

R.T.Gill 1848-50 

Wm. Gaither 1850-52 

David Kyes 1852-54 



Thomas Orendorff 1827 

Thomas Dillon 1828 

Nathan Dillon 1829 

Timothy B. Hoblet 1830 

Isaac Baker 1830 

Benjamin Briggs 1831 

William Holland 1831 

David H. Holcomb 1831 

Andrew Tharp 1832 

John A. Broyhill 1839-42 



Wm. H. Hodge 1827-31 

Park Woodrow 1832 

Lewis Prettyman 1833 

Thomas C. Wilson 1836 

Lewis Prettyman 1840 

Wm. Mooberry 1843 

Jesse A. Nason 1848-53 



COUNTY JUDGES. 

Alfred W. Rodecker 1877-86 

George C. Rider 1886-94 

Wm. R. Curran 1894-98 

George C. Rider 1898-1902 

COUNTY CLERKS. 

JohnGridley 1853-65 

William W. Clemens 1865-69 

Richard D. Smith 1869-77 

Flavel Shurtleff 1877-86 

Louis Schurman 1886-90 

CIRCUIT CLERKS. 

George H. Harlow 1860-64 

Henry P. Finigan 1864-68 

Wm. P. Allensworth 1868-72 

Simeon R. Drake 1872-76 

Henry C. Sutton 1876-84 

STATE'S ATTORNEYS. 

Wm. L. Prettyman 1876-80 Geo. W. Cunningham..l896-1904 

Edward Reardon 1880-84 Charles Schaefer 1904-08 

Wm. L. Prettyman 1884-88 Wm. J. Reardon 1908-16 

G. F. Saltonstall 1888-96 

COUNTY TREASURERS. 

James Wibray 1839-43 

A. B. Davis 1843-49 

James R. Babcock 1849-60 

Wm. S. Maus 1860-61 

Peter Weyrich 1861-65 

Charles Turner 1865-67 

JohnGridley 1867 

Samuel E. Barber 1867-69 

Wm. Gaither 1869-73 

Thomas Cooper, resi'nd.. 1873-85 

SHERIFFS. 

Thomas C.Reeves 1854-56 

Chapman Williamson.... 1856-58 

Thomas C. Reeves 1858-60 

Chapman Williamson. ...1860-62 

James S. Hawkins 1862-64 

James Hamson 1864-66 

Jonathan H. Meyers 1866-68 

Edward Pratt 1868-70 

Thomas C. Reeves 1870-74 

Edward Pratt 1874-78 

CORONERS . 

Nathan B. Kellogg 1842-48 

David Bailey 1848-52 

Joseph B. Worley 1852-54 

David M. Bailey 1854-56 

Wm, A. Tinney 1856-60 

John Wildhack 1860-62 

Henry Sage 1862-64 

Wm. Diviney 1864-68 

A. Culver 1868-70 

John M. Tinney 1870-74 

SURVEYORS. 

Thomas King, Jr 1853-61 

Wm. R. Kellogg 1861 

Wm. D. Cleveland 1863 

Leander King 1865-71 

B. C. Smith 1871-73 

J. L. Hayward 1873-75 

Leander King 1875-84 



Jesse Black, Jr 1902-10 

James M. Rahn 1910-18 



Adolph Fehrman 1890-98 

Lot Bergstresser 1898-1906 

Fred. L. Bergstresser 1906-10 

Geo. Behrens 1910-18 



John Fitzgerald 1884-92 

A. L. Champion 1892-1900 

R. V. Howe 1900-08 

E. L. Meyers 1008-12 

C.O.Myers 1912-16 



T. T. Heaton, fill vacancy 1885-86 

Daniel Sapp 1886-90 

Henry Schwartz 1890-94 

Charles S. Wood 1894-98 

Geo. W. Cress 1898-1902 

John E. Russell 1902-06 

Edw. J, Kraeger 1906-10 

Wm. E. Schurman 1910-14 

Geo. M. Lowry 1914-18 



A. J. Kinsey , died inoffice 1878-84 

S. D. Kinsey 1884-86 

Louis Stalter 1886-90 

J. C. Friederich 1890-94 

John E. Stout 1894-98 

John D. Mount 1898-1902 

Robert Clay 1902-06 

J. A. Norris 1906-10 

C. A. Fluegel 1910-14 

J. L. Wilson 1914-18 



Henry Gulon 1874-78 

Albert R. Warren 1878-82 

Charles Young 1882-84 

W. T. Griffith, resigned. ..1884 

Richard Charlton 1884-92 

Harry V. Bailey 1892-1900 

Nathan Holmes 1900-04 

J. M. Coleman 1904-08 

Wm. Niergarth 1908-12 

E. F. Masen 1912-16 



Wm. D. Oswald 1884-96 

DedeH. Jansen 1896-1900 

John R. Seibert 1900-04 

Robt. P. VanDeusen 1904-12 

Ben. F. Smith 1912-16 



SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS. 



John M. Bush 1846- 

James Haines 1848- 



48 Lemuel Allen 1850-60 

50 John W. Moreland 1860-64 



Note. — Name changed to 
Superintendent of Schools. 



SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS. 



Stephen K. Hatfield 1865-73 

M. E. Pomfret 1873-77 

Benj. C. Allensworth 1877-86 



David B. Pittsford 1886-94 

Wm. R. Lackland, res'd..l894-95 
John L. Boling 1895-98 



Wm. P. Mavity 1898-1906 

A. M. Wells 1906-10 

Ben L. Smith 1910-18 



PIONEER COURTS IN TAZEWELL COUNTY. 

The first Probate Court was held in Mackinaw, April 15th, 1827, 
Mordecai Mobley, presiding. 

For the names of the County Court Judges, see page under heading 
of Tazewell County Officials. 

The first Circuit Court held at Mackinaw, was on May 12th, 1828, 
Samuel D. Lockwood was the presiding judge. In 1831, the county-seat 
was moved to Pekin, and Judge Lockwood opened court in the Snell 
school house. In 1830, the county-seat was transfered to Tremont. 

The following named Tazewell county attorneys were elected Judges 
of the Circuit Court: James Harriott, Charles Turner, Nathaniel W. 
Green and Theodore N. Green. 



IN MEMORIA. 

Names of attorneys-at-law who have resided in Tazewell county— or practiced— in her 
courts since 1827, but have joined the Bar where all are received according to their deeds: 
Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, James Shields, Robert G. Ingersoll, Edward D. Baker, 
David Davis, Samuel D. Lockwood, James Harriott, Edward Jones, James Roberts, Joseph M. 
Hanna, Charles Ballance, Wm. B. Parker, Edward Parker, Richard W. Ireland, N. P. Bailey, 
George Farquier, John T. Stewart, Daniel Stone, Thomas Neal, Gov. Hubbard, Samuel Treat, 
John J. Hardin, James McDougall, Judge Dummer, Stephn T. Logan, Alexander Herring, 
Joshua Morgan, Neill Johnson, Palmer Holmes, John M. Bush, Joel W. Clark, M. Tackaberry, 
A. L. Davidson, N. H. Purple, 0. H. Merryman, David Prickett, Benjamin F. James, 
W. D. Briggs, Samuel W. Fuller, A. Gridley, William Holmes, Clifton Moore, Henry P. Finnigan, 
Richard Williams, Joseph Mclntire, C. H. Goodrich, William H. Leonard, S. L. Richmond, Wm. 
S. Stanberry, B. F. Baker, T. J. Farnham, A. W. Bull, Wilmot Turley. A. Mendoll, Chas. Parker, 
Sherrod Williams, Isaac Holland, Chas. Vatterlin, P. E. Davis. William Shannon, Joseph Mark, 
Thomas Birkett, Enos Nichols, William Furgeson, A. H. Saltonstall, William Allen, Hamilton 
Saltonstall, G. S. Gibson, A. L. Davidson, E. B. Glass, Matthew Graig, Elias Brearley, Cash. G. 
Whitney, Wm. B. Tinney, Jerome Gilman, Alfred J. Ware, M. D. Beecher, S. D. Puterbaugh, 
Wm. Edwards, David Kyes, John B. Cohrs, Benj. S. Prettyman, C. A. Roberts, Chas. Turner, 
J. W. Dougherty, Nathaniel W. Green, Wm. Don Maus, Henry McLaughlin, Abial B. Sawyer, 
Mark M. Bassett, C. J. Elliott, Thos. Mehan, Frank Purple, Gurdon F. Saltonstall, Alfred W. 
Rodecker, James Haines, sr., George B. Foster, H. M. Gillmore, Michael D. Conaghan. Ben. 
Hoff, jr., P. A. Bergen, et. al. 



TAZEWELL COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION 

Organized March 26th, 190L 

TAZEWELL LAW LIBRARY 

Library open to members daily except Sunday. Room in Court House, third floor. 

OFFICERS. 

President Charles Schaefer I Third Vice-President Ernest A. Rich 

First Vice-President John T. EUiff Secretary Con L. Conder 

Second Vice-President Henry P.Jones I Treasurer Wm. S. Prettyman 

MEHBERS OF BAR. 

Dunkelberg, Ferdinand C Rich, Albert R 

Elliff, JohnT ! Rider, George C 

Frings, Herman C ' Russell, Raybum L 

Jones, Henry P Powers, James M 

Jones, James St. Cerny, James P 

Marrs, Edw. D 1 Schaefer, Charles 

Potts, Wm. A Smith, Ben. L 

Cunningham, Geo. W ! Prettyman, Wm. L Smith, T. N 

Cunningham, Eugene S Prettyman, Wm. S Smith, Orville A 

Cunningham, WalterG Rahn, James M Spoonhoff, Henry F 

Curran, Wm. R Reardon, Edward Velde, Frankhn L 

Danforth, Asa Reardon, Wm. J VonTobel, Walter R 

Dempsey, Ralph Rich, Ernest A Wilkins, Frank J 



Black, Edward E 
Black, Jesse Jr.... 
Brecher, George F. 

Clay, Henry 

Conder, Con L 

Cooney, Wm. B.... 
Culbertson, John Jr 



ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE REMOVED TO NEW FIELDS OF LABOR. 

Hon. Joseph V. Graff, Peoria, III.; W. H. Ambrose, Chicago, 111.; Eugene S. Cunningham, Phoenix, 
Arizona; David F. Lawley, Los Angeles, Cal.; Charles A. Waltmire, Punta Gorda, Florida; Asa 
Danforth and Wm. S. Kellogg, Peoria, 111.; John D. Clark, and Wm. S. Holmes. EfBngham, III.; 
Carl F. Mohr, Rockford, III., and many others. 



CONTEINTS OF CORNER STONE. 



The Corner-Stone oif the neMr Tazewell County Court House, at Pekin, Illinois, 
contains the folloM^in^ Mementos of TazeM^ell County, Past and Present. 

Contents of Corner-stone Box assembled by Wm. II. Bates. 
Copper corner-stone box donated by Jaeckel & Sons, sheet-metal workers, Pekin, Illinois. 

Manuscript of the addresses delivered by Hon. Wm. R. Curran, and Pres. J. O. Jones, at 
the exercises incident to the laying of the corner stone. 

A brief history of important events pertaining to Tazewell county, from the building of 
Fori Creve Coevr, (on the hill above Wesley City,) by La Salle and followers, in 1680, to the 
close of the Civil War, in 1865. Also short histories of the nineteen Townships of Tazewell 
county, from their organization up to 1850, by W. H. Bates. 

A copy of the Tazewell County Directory, for 1914, by John A. White, containing the names 
of the business men and leading farmers of Tazewell county, Illinois. 

The Pekin City Directory, for 1914, by W. H. Bates, which contains the names of residents 
over 18 years of age, of the city of Pekin, the four Pekin Rural Routes and the new suburb, 
South Pekin. 

Photographic groups of the Board of Supervisors of Tazewell county; County Officers of 
Tazewell County, and Tazewell County Bar Association, by H. H. Cole, photographer. 

Year Book, for 1914, compiled by Geo. Behrens, County Clerk. 

Bar Docket, May term, 1914, of the last Tazewell County Circuit Court held in the old 
Court House. Judge Theodore N. Green, presiding. The docket containes the names of the 
Tazewell County Bar Association, List of Grand Jurors, etc. Issued from the office of C. O. 
Myers, Circuit Clerk. 

A photo of the "Lincoln-Douglas Lodge," erected by H. H. Cole, at Tuscarora, Peoria 
county. 111., from material taken from the old Tazewell County court house. Also a copy of 
Cole's Historical Picture Gallery of the Pioneers of Tazewell County, containing 1,000 cabinet 
pictures of old settlers of this county, with names alphabetically arranged and numbered. 

Jjate statements of the three National Banks, of Pekin, 111. 

A penholder, made from piece of old court house, by Benj. Mollet. 

A souvenir edition of Pekin's Great Street Fair, in 1899, containing a History of Fairs dat- 
ing back to 121 years before the Christian Era. Also a copy of Pekin's second Street Fair Sou- 
venir, illustrated. 

The Fourth of July Souvenir, published by the Pekin Order of Owls for the National holi- 
day of 1914, containing pictures and brief histories of George Washington and Abraham Lin- 
coln, W. H. Bates, editor and publisher. 

A copy of Shade's Monthly, Pekin's pioneer magazine, published by John H. Shade, under 
date of May, 1913, containing a history of Pekin and Vicinity in Early Times, by W. H. Bates. 

Early days in Illinois — an address by Hon. James Haines, delivered at the dedication of the 
Old Settlers' tSociety. of Tazewell county, on the Fair grounds, at Delavan, 111., 1899. Also a 
photograph of Mr. Haines, taken in 1868. 

Copies of live designs of ruled note paper, embellished in patriotic colors, such as were used 
during the Civil War, from 1861 to 1865. 

A photograph of Seth Kinnian, a pioneer of Tazewell county, and a great hunter and trap- 
per. Also a picture of the elk-horn chair he made and presented to Abraham Lincoln. Mr. 
Kinman, in pioneer days, was proprietor of a hotel and ten-pin alley in Pekin. He was cred- 
ited with being a great "fiddler" in early times. 

A photo of the old court house, taken May 21, 1914, by H. R. Dunnington, Deputy Circuit 
Clerk, Pekin, 111., just prior to its demolishment bv wreckers. 

Photographs of the falling walls and ruins of the old court house, taken by Harry Dittmer, 
Pekin, 111. 

Among the pioneer publications in Tazewell county which had been preserved in the Cir- 
cuit Clerk's office, and others collected by W. H. Bates during the last fifty years, are the fol- 
lowing: 

The Tazewell Reporter, Vol. 2 No. 5 under date of Pekin, 111, June 9. 1841 . By Thos. J. Pickett. 
Politics, Whig. 

The Tazewell County Whig, Vol. 1, No. 10, dated Tremont, III., June 19, 1844. By E. Oliver 
Woodcock. Politics, Whig. 

The Pekin Weekly Visitor Vol. 1 No. 31, dated Sept. 27, 1845. 

The Tazewell Whig and The Pekin Commercial Advertiser, Pekin, 111.. February 11, 1848. By 
G. Lawrence and F. L. Rhoads. Whig in Politics. 

The Tazewell Mirror, Pekin, 111,, August, 4, 1849. By John Smith. On August 29, 1851. 
Bernard Bailey, became editor and proprietor. On May 21, 1852, John Smith and A. Hender- 
son appear as proprietors. Then on May 20. 1853, John Smith is shown as sole proprietor of 
the Mirror. This paper in 1860 became The Tazeivell County Republican, then the Pekin Post and 
finally died as the Pekin Post-Tribune. 

The Illinois Reveille, Pekin, 111., December 14, 1850. Schoaf & Rogers, editors and proprie- 
tors. This wa.s apparently the first Democratic paper published in Pekin, the new county 
seat of Tazewell. 

Pekin Plaindealer, Pekin, 111., dated April 3, 1856. By Merrill C. Young, editor and proprie- 
tor. Democratic. This paper succeeded the Reveille, then the Plaindealir was succeeded by 
The Tazewell Register and sold by Pickett to John McDonald in 1858, who remained at the 



Contents of Cornerstone and Program 31 

helm until 1868. A copy of February 4, 1862, enclosed. The Tazewell Register had the usual 
variegated experience, until purchased by W. T. Dowdall and J. B. Irwin. The latter soon 
succeeded Dowdall and changed the name to The Pekin Times. In 1885, A. W. Rodecker, F. 
Shurtleff, Thos. Cooper and B. C. Alleuworth, purchased The Times. Allensworth and Cooper 
soon retired, and Rodecker and Shurtleff, became sole owners. Shurtleft' then .sold his inter- 
est to Rodecker, who continued its head until a year prior to his death, when it was purchased 
by the present owners. 

Also copies of the present-day city and county newspapers, as follows: 

The Pekin Daily Ti^nes, published by the Times Publishing Co,, (inc.), B. C. Allensworth, 
editor and manager. (See history above.) 

The Freie-Presse, Pekin, 111., Nov. 12, 1914, by Jacob Schmidt. This German Weekly was 
started by John W. Hoffman, iji 1876. Hoffman sold to Albert Weiss, in 1882, who in turn sold 
to Schmidt on .lanuary 1, 1914. 

The Post-News, Washington, 111., Nov. 12, 1914, by Paul R. Goddard, editor. Washington 
Printing Co., publishers. 

Tri-County Times. Delavan, 111., Nov. 11, 1914. by H. S. Beatty, editor and publisher. 

The Tim,es Review, Hopedale, 111., Nov. 12, 1914, by Elwood M. Garlick, editor and pub- 
lisher. 

The Enterprise- Oazette, Mackinaw, 111., Nov. 12. 1914, by Geo. C. Cramer and O. M. Lay- 
ten, editors and publishers. 

The Advertiser, Delavan, 111 , Nov, 12, 1914, by F. C. McKee, editor and publisher. 

The News, Minier, 111., Nov. 1.3, 1914, by Crihfield Brothers, editors and publishers. 

The News, Morton, 111., Nov. 12, 1914, by F. B. Mills, editor and publisher. 

The News, Tremont, 111., Nov. 13. 1914, by M. L. Cottingham, editor and publisher. 

The Banner, Green Valley, 111., Nov. 12, 1914, by C. S Darling, editor and publisher. 

TJie Helper, Armington, 111., Nov. 13, 1914, by Jas. McDowell, editor; Crihfleld Brothers, 
publishers. 

The Progress, Deer Creek, 111., Nov. 12, 1914, by H. D. Lewis, editor and publisher. 

The Post, East Peoria, 111., Nov. 11. 1914, by W. W. Goddard, editor and publisher. 

Pekin Department, Peoria Journal, Nov. 13. 1914. Abie Schaefer, manager; E. R. Rollins, 
editor. 

Pekin Department, Peoria Star, Nov. 13, 1914. Paul Massey, manager; Wm. G. Fair, editor. 

Pekin Department. Peoria Transcript, Nov. 13, 1914. Louie B. Watson, editor and mana- 
ger. 

A Biographical Sketch of General James Shields, Lawyer, Soldier and Statesman. Born 
in Dungannon, Tyrone county, Ireland, 1810. Died in Ottumwa. Iowa, June 1, 1879. .Shields 
gained distinction in two wars — Mexican and Civil. AVas appointed a General by Abraham 
Lincoln. Sketch furnished by Edward Reardon, attorney. 

A photograph of Judge A. W. Rodecker, with an account of his death. 

A New Year's Address, in prose, by Mrs. Ida F. Rodecker. 

Photograph of the members of Gehrig's Band, and a history of the organization. 

Names of the officers of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, also a Golden Jubilee Souvenir. 

Names of Hose Co. No. 1, Pekin Fire Department, and a Photograph of same. 

COMMITTEES IN CHARGE 

General. Arrangements.— P. Sweitzer, S. S. Smith, J. O. Jones, Geo. A. Kuhl, A. A. 
Sipfle. 

Music— Judge J. M. Rahn, H. Birkenbusch and W. P. Herget. 
Finance. — J. C. Aydelott, W. E. Schurman and W. E. Lautz. 
Speakers. — J. O. Jones, W. L. Prettyman and G. A. Steinmetz. 

ORDER OF EXERCISES, NOV. 14, 1914 

10:10 a. Ml., Concert, by Gehrig's Band, from first floor of new Court House. 

Exercises at the Camtol Theatre, as follows: 
1:00 p. m.. Music, by Gehrig's Band. 

Invocation. Rev. W. C. Crofts, Pastor First Presbyterian Church, Pekin, Illinois. 

Address, J. O. Jones, Chairman Board of Supervisors. 
1:30 p. m.. Address, "Genesis of the Courts of Tazewell County," Hon. Wm. R. Curran. 
2:10 p. m.. Music, by Gehrig's Band. 
2:20 p. m.. Address, Hon. B. M. Chiperfield, Congressman at Large, Canton, Illinois. 

Exercises concluded at northwest corner of the new Court House. 
3:15 p. m., Laying of Corner Stone, by Peter Sweitzer, Chairman of Building Cotnmittee. 



PROGRAM 

OF A PART OF THE DEDICATORY EXERCISES FOR JUNE 21, 1916 

(As far as prepared up to time of going to press.) 
10:30 a. m. — In Circuit Court room— Address by Hon. Wm. J. Calhoun, Ex-Minister to China 
2:30 p. M. — Out-Door Meeting — Address by Hon. James M. Graham, Ex-Member of Congress 

Address by Hon. J. Ham Lewis, United States Senator 
7:30 p. M. — Automobile Parade — Decorated and Illuminated 

The New Court House Decorated and Illuminated 
Appropriate Instrumental and Vocal Music will form a part ot the day and evening exercises 



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